Merriam-Webster Logo
SINCE 1828
Menu
dictionary thesaurus

Thesaurus

travesty

noun

Synonyms and Antonyms of travesty

1 a poor, insincere, or insulting imitation of something
  • rigged from the start, his trial was a travesty of justice
Synonyms of travesty

caricature, cartoon, farce, joke, mockery, parody, sham
Words Related to travesty

burlesque, comedy

lampoon, takeoff

counterfeit, fake, feigning, forgery, hoax, humbug, knockoff, phony (also phoney), pretense (or pretence), sham, simulation
Near Antonyms of travesty

homage, tribute
2 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 of travesty

burlesque, caricature, parody, put-on, rib, send-up, spoof, takeoff
Words Related to travesty

lampoon, mockery, satire

comedy, farce, humor, sketch, slapstick, squib

distortion, exaggeration

imitation, impersonation, mimicking

Synonym Discussion of travesty

caricature, burlesque, parody, travesty mean a comic or grotesque imitation. caricature implies ludicrous exaggeration of the characteristic features of a subject.
    • caricatures of politicians in cartoons
burlesque implies mockery especially through giving a serious or lofty subject a frivolous treatment.
    • a nightclub burlesque of a trial in court
parody applies especially to treatment of a trivial or ludicrous subject in the exactly imitated style of a well-known author or work.
    • a witty parody of a popular novel
travesty implies that the subject remains unchanged but that the style is extravagant or absurd.
    • this production is a travesty of the opera

travesty

verb

Synonyms and Antonyms of travesty

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
Synonyms of travesty

burlesque, caricature, do, imitate, mimic, mock, parody, send up, spoof
Words Related to travesty

lampoon, pasquinade, satirize

deride, gibe (or jibe), ridicule

ape, copycat, monkey, parrot

duplicate, emulate, replicate, reproduce

act, counterfeit, dissemble, fake, feign, pretend, sham, simulate

elaborate, embellish, embroider, exaggerate, magnify, pad, play up, stretch

amplify, enhance, enlarge (on or upon), expand, flesh (out), overdraw, overstate, put on

mime, pantomime

impersonate, perform, personate, play

Learn More about travesty

  1. Dictionary: Definition of travesty Spanish Central: Translation of travesty Nglish: Translation of travesty for Spanish speakers Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about travesty

Seen and Heard

What made you want to look up travesty? Please tell us where you read or heard it (including the quote, if possible).

show comments hide comments
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

WORD OF THE DAY

pungle

Listen to the pronounciation of pungle

to make a payment or contribution

Get Word of the Day daily email!

TRENDING NOW

  1. codify Dem candidates call to protect Roe v. Wade

  2. contempt, held in contempt Barr in contempt of Congress

  3. DEFCON CNN describes Trump-Congress confrontation

SEE ALL
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

Words at Play
Ask the Editors
Word Games