parody 1 of 2

1
as in spoof
a work that imitates and exaggerates another work for comic effect the musical is a parody of every biblical epic ever made

Synonyms & Similar Words

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2
as in joke
a poor, insincere, or insulting imitation of something the young man sported a feeble parody of a mustache in a vain attempt to make himself look older

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

parody

2 of 2

verb

Synonym Chooser

How does the noun parody differ from other similar words?

Some common synonyms of parody are burlesque, caricature, and travesty. While all these words mean "a comic or grotesque imitation," 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

Where would burlesque be a reasonable alternative to parody?

The words burlesque and parody are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, burlesque implies mockery especially through giving a serious or lofty subject a frivolous treatment.

a nightclub burlesque of a trial in court

When is caricature a more appropriate choice than parody?

Although the words caricature and parody have much in common, caricature implies ludicrous exaggeration of the characteristic features of a subject.

caricatures of politicians in cartoons

When could travesty be used to replace parody?

The synonyms travesty and parody are sometimes interchangeable, but travesty implies that the subject remains unchanged but that the style is extravagant or absurd.

this production is a travesty of the opera

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of parody
Noun
The pathologies of bureaucracy that are attacked by Musk and ridiculed by popular parodies were warned of by sociologist Robert K. Merton, in 1936, as unanticipated negative consequences. Dan Perry, Newsweek, 19 Feb. 2025 Most clicked yesterday: See S.N.L.’s greatest parodies of commercials. German Lopez, New York Times, 17 Feb. 2025
Verb
In Sassy Justice, the technology was used to parody Donald Trump and Mark Zuckerberg, among others. Georg Szalai, The Hollywood Reporter, 8 Dec. 2024 The skit started off by revisiting some of the most talked about campaigning moments over the past week, with Maya Rudolph continuing her portrayal of Harris and James Austin Johnson, clad in a garbage vest, parodying Trump. Rebecca Schneid, TIME, 3 Nov. 2024 See All Example Sentences for parody
Recent Examples of Synonyms for parody
Noun
  • While many dismiss this sort of movie fare, and many others brushed off a later-career showing from the Wayans, those who respect the parody’s never-taking-itself-too-seriously nature will find that Marlon Wayans still knew how to make a hilarious spoof into the 2010s and beyond.
    Travis Bean, Forbes, 22 Feb. 2025
  • The sketch, another edition of The Lawrence Welk Show spoofs that first debuted during a 2008 episode, kicked off with Fred Armisen back as Welk.
    Lindsay Kimble, People.com, 17 Feb. 2025
Noun
  • His angle: joke about the very specific and very absurd elements of cycling, snowboarding, and getting outdoors.
    Frederick Dreier, Outside Online, 17 Feb. 2025
  • Sunday night's show packed five decades of memories, references, music, and jokes into a three-hour program that was high on emotion, heart, and laughs.
    Melissa Locker, TIME, 17 Feb. 2025
Verb
  • Cuba’s foreign minister mocked NED on social media.
    Peter Roskam, National Review, 26 Feb. 2025
  • Musk also mocked people who criticized the order on X, noting that workers could respond by asking an AI chatbot — such as Grok, owned by X — to create a list of accomplished tasks.
    Mathew Rodriguez, Them, 25 Feb. 2025
Noun
  • These bits of satire don’t betray a lack of respect for the films that came before The Monkey so much as an understanding that the King adaptation is in dire need of a refresh.
    Louis Peitzman, Vulture, 21 Feb. 2025
  • If Demi Moore wasn’t going to win for her career-reviving performance in the horror satire The Substance, then surely British voters would reward Marianne Jean-Baptiste for her searing depiction of depression in Mike Leigh’s Hard Truths.
    Sarah Crompton, Vogue, 17 Feb. 2025
Noun
  • Fola comes across as the most sympathetic character, and the story, though not a first-person narrative, feels like it’s told from their perspective — which perhaps explains a slight tendency toward caricatures in the portrayals of other characters, especially Healy and Sandra.
    Emily McClanathan, Chicago Tribune, 21 Feb. 2025
  • The caskets were displayed in front of a large banner that showed a caricature replicating antisemitic tropes of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu with vampiric teeth and blood running down his face.
    Astha Rajvanshi, NBC News, 20 Feb. 2025
Verb
  • For example, a light lavender lining peeks out from underneath the tool of the Rapunzel dress, which can be paired with a long, dramatic boa to imitate her lustrous mane.
    Ashlyn Robinette, People.com, 11 Feb. 2025
  • Between the lines: The BRT experience aims to imitate the experience of a subway or train.
    Andrew King, Axios, 10 Feb. 2025
Noun
  • The show also announced that Alan Cumming will have a guest role in the season’s second episode, voicing a cartoon character named Mr. Ring-A-Ding who breaks out of his celluloid world.
    Rick Porter, The Hollywood Reporter, 26 Feb. 2025
  • Spiteful buys plain aluminum cans and applies an array of colorful cartoon labels during the packaging process to market its portfolio.
    Robert Channick, Chicago Tribune, 25 Feb. 2025
Verb
  • Brown revealed her new platinum blonde ‘do at the start of the month, before giving her locks their red carpet debut at Sunday’s 2025 SAG Awards.
    Kirsty Hatcher, People.com, 28 Feb. 2025
  • The extraditions were done at the request of the U.S. government as President Donald Trump’s tariff deadline looms.
    Greg Wehner, Fox News, 28 Feb. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Parody.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/parody. Accessed 3 Mar. 2025.

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