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

Relevance
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 White Lotus Season 3 star Aimee Lou Wood says Saturday Night Live’s parody of her character Chelsea from the show went too far. Tim Lammers, Forbes.com, 14 Apr. 2025 In Greenland and Canada, anti-MAGA parody hats have become popular. Justin Porter, New York Times, 4 Apr. 2025
Verb
The 3x Golden Globe nominee channeled Gerard Way in the sketch ‘Goth Kid on Vacation’, which parodied the ’06 single ‘Welcome to the Black Parade’ with a Jamaican reggae medley featuring Kenan Thompson and Ego Nwodim. Glenn Garner, Deadline, 6 Apr. 2025 During her opening monologue, Madison — who was previously parodied by SNL cast member Heidi Gardner earlier in the season — poked fun at her stripper skills in the award-winning project. Nicholas Rice, People.com, 30 Mar. 2025 See All Example Sentences for parody
Recent Examples of Synonyms for parody
Noun
  • Plot details for The Naked Gun are being kept under wraps, but like the first three movies, viewers can expect a cop spoof filled with ridiculous sight gags.
    Christopher Rudolph, People.com, 6 Apr. 2025
  • Beginning in the ‘30s and really hitting their stride in the glorious color animation of the ‘40s and ‘50s, the Warner Bros. cartoons have certainly stretched the bounds of what’s possible in 8-11 minutes, from full opera spoofs to fourth-wall-breaking experiments.
    Sarah Shachat, IndieWire, 17 Mar. 2025
Noun
  • Trump sued Maher in 2013 for $5 million after the comedian made a crass joke about his mother and an orangutan.
    Steff Danielle Thomas, The Hill, 19 Apr. 2025
  • Andrews adds musical interludes, which don’t always work, and brutal jokes, which do.
    Richard Brody, New Yorker, 18 Apr. 2025
Verb
  • Constance, the policy consultant, says his 29-year-old daughter had joined other liberal family members in mocking him over his participation in NatalCon.
    Meena Duerson, CNN Money, 10 Apr. 2025
  • Altman mocked Musk by making a counter-offer to buy X for $9.7 billion.
    Jibin Joseph, PC Magazine, 10 Apr. 2025
Noun
  • The story works less as a Hollywood satire than as a survival thriller.
    Ben Rosenstock, Vulture, 10 Apr. 2025
  • Scottish actor Capaldi, the twelfth Doctor in the Doctor Who universe (2013–2017), won several awards, including a British Academy Television Award, for his performance as Malcolm Tucker in the beloved satire The Thick of It (2005–2012).
    Randall Colburn, EW.com, 10 Apr. 2025
Noun
  • These caricatures are amusing, but nothing compared to when President Dutton finally has to strap up and blow away mercenaries like Rambo.
    Jordan Hoffman, EW.com, 9 Apr. 2025
  • Pottery making, caricature illustrations, and other creative installations will also be available.
    Ella Gonzales, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 7 Apr. 2025
Verb
  • The Cubs beat the Dodgers 16-0 on Saturday, featuring an entertaining moment in which position-player-pitching Miguel Rojas imitated the deliveries of a few Dodgers pitchers.
    Ken Rosenthal, New York Times, 14 Apr. 2025
  • Moreover, these models can imitate individuals' or industries' writing styles and wording.
    Kevin Korte, Forbes.com, 8 Apr. 2025
Noun
  • Some passed the Star & Garter bar, with its cartoon in the window stating ‘Thistle Be Our Season’.
    Michael Walker, New York Times, 13 Apr. 2025
  • The cartoon imagines that the audience would revel in punching down.
    Yii-Jan Lin, The Conversation, 11 Apr. 2025
Verb
  • Here’s hoping these two titans of the game meet one more time in the postseason before they’re done.
    Josh Yohe, New York Times, 18 Apr. 2025
  • But another South Florida spot did: Itamae Ao, a Nikkei-style Peruvian-Japanese spot in Miami, earned its first Michelin star.
    Connie Ogle, Miami Herald, 18 Apr. 2025

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Parody.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/parody. Accessed 23 Apr. 2025.

More from Merriam-Webster on parody

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

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