1
as in parody
a poor, insincere, or insulting imitation of something
rigged from the start, his trial was a travesty of justice
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in spoof
a work that imitates and exaggerates another work for comic effect
the big-screen version of the classic sitcom is actually a good-natured travesty of the TV series
Synonyms & Similar Words
as in to parody
to copy or exaggerate (someone or something) in order to make fun of
this comedy sketch mindlessly travesties the hard work of relief workers around the world
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of travesty
Chicago Tribune, 3 July 2025
Bill Zito got passed over yet again for NHL general manager of the year -- a travesty!
—Greg Cote
june 29, Miami Herald, 29 June 2025
The New Republic, 22 June 2023
Readers may be tempted to side at one moment with the defenders of Jewish caution and Jewish sentiment, however their instincts are travestied, and soon afterward with Zuckerman’s principled view of the autonomy of art.
—Cynthia Ozick, WSJ, 25 May 2018
See All Example Sentences for travesty
Noun
But the bloated funding bill the GOP is trying to ram down the throats of unsuspecting Americans is a travesty beyond all comprehension.
—Chicago Tribune, 3 July 2025
Bill Zito got passed over yet again for NHL general manager of the year -- a travesty!
—Greg Cote
june 29, Miami Herald, 29 June 2025
Verb
In 1933, the Marx Brothers mocked dictatorship with Duck Soup; three decades later, Kubrick and writer Terry Southern travestied the Bomb.
—The New Republic, 22 June 2023
Readers may be tempted to side at one moment with the defenders of Jewish caution and Jewish sentiment, however their instincts are travestied, and soon afterward with Zuckerman’s principled view of the autonomy of art.
—Cynthia Ozick, WSJ, 25 May 2018
See All Example Sentences for travesty
Recent Examples of Synonyms for travesty
Noun
-
Fittingly, Yankovic and Miranda pulled together a parody of the viral Coldplay Cheating Camera with some help from Colbert’s late-night peers.—
Larisha Paul,
Rolling Stone,
22 July 2025
-
Colbert soon developed a character for himself, a parody of conservative political pundits loosely based on Bill O'Reilly, then on Fox News.—
Kelly Lawler,
USA Today,
19 July 2025
Noun
-
The Tonight Show host appeared in a Late Show spoof — alongside Seth Meyers, Anderson Cooper, John Oliver, Jon Stewart, and more — poking fun at the circumstances surrounding the franchise’s sudden ending and the viral Coldplay kiss cam couple on Monday.—
Emlyn Travis Published,
EW.com,
22 July 2025
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Mulligan got her chance to play the part more than a decade later, when she was cast as Sophie in a 2019 spoof of Mamma Mia!—
Nicole Briese,
People.com,
20 July 2025
Verb
-
He was previously mocked on social media during a loss to Austin Peay in November, when the Fox College Hoops broadcast showed Clark sitting in the stands.—
Jackson Thompson,
FOXNews.com,
19 July 2025
-
This week, the podcaster Joe Rogan, an influential Trump booster last year, mocked the Administration’s Epstein stance.—
Jon Allsop,
New Yorker,
18 July 2025
Noun
-
Chinese officials in the eastern province of Zhejiang have put stand-up comics on notice to avoid jokes that could fuel resentment between the sexes.—
Micah McCartney,
MSNBC Newsweek,
24 July 2025
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According to the site, there were allegedly posts that included fat-shaming and rape jokes, among other topics via the Q&A platform Curious Cat.—
Ilana Kaplan,
People.com,
24 July 2025
Verb
-
Perhaps the Lake Bluff streakers heard of those at CLC and wanted to imitate them.—
Charles Selle,
Chicago Tribune,
23 July 2025
-
The park’s hub-and-spoke design has been copied by parks around the world, but the caliber of Disneyland’s craftsmanship wasn’t easily imitated.—
Eve Chen,
USA Today,
18 July 2025
Noun
-
Outside, a McDonald’s food truck handed out signature bites, while inside, caricature artists sketched guests and bartenders poured bespoke cocktails.—
Keyaira Boone,
Essence,
30 July 2025
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Some tribal leaders said the use of Native American mascots is perceived as the non-tribal dominant society parading around its caricature of Indigenous people for entertainment, a people whose lands were taken by that dominant society.—
Frank Vaisvilas,
jsonline.com,
23 July 2025
Verb
-
The Great Lakes freighter sank — one of the largest on Lake Superior ever to do so — during a violent November storm in 1975 while carrying Minnesota ore.—
Frank Witsil,
Freep.com,
23 July 2025
-
When the nests are done, males entice females to join them.—
Sheryl De Vore,
Chicago Tribune,
22 July 2025
Noun
-
The California high-speed rail project is a sham and should have been stopped many years ago.—
The Editorial Board,
Oc Register,
20 July 2025
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Some ought to know better: The false and horrific accusation before the highly politicized International Criminal Court is a total sham.—
Jason D. Greenblatt,
MSNBC Newsweek,
16 July 2025
Cite this Entry
“Travesty.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/travesty. Accessed 3 Aug. 2025.
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