1
as in parody
a poor, insincere, or insulting imitation of something
rigged from the start, his trial was a travesty of justice
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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, 8 May 2025
The fact that John Ford — who any cinephile would consider one of the most important directors of all time — his final movie just looks like garbage is a travesty.
—J. Kim Murphy, Variety, 24 Apr. 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
This is a travesty and reflects the images of a soldier being left behind in battle.
—Chicago Tribune, 8 May 2025
The fact that John Ford — who any cinephile would consider one of the most important directors of all time — his final movie just looks like garbage is a travesty.
—J. Kim Murphy, Variety, 24 Apr. 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
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However, the thought occurs to me, having stopped off last summer in Cannes on the glittering coast of the South of France, that increasingly all these places are rapidly becoming a parody of themselves and their own brands.—
James Fallon,
Footwear News,
24 May 2025
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After initial opposition, studios threw their support behind the bill when language was updated to carve out exclusions for projects such as documentaries and biographical works, or for purposes of comment, criticism, or parody, among others.—
Ted Johnson,
Deadline,
21 May 2025
Noun
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Their spoof of Donald Trump and Joe Biden bickering about who was the better golfer was conceived and recorded while the CNN presidential debate was still ongoing, and released immediately afterward.—
Don Riddell,
CNN Money,
27 May 2025
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Appealing to the kids Somehow, the Chargers and Colts ended up with the same approach of a Minecraft theme, and both making a spoof of the Rapoport-Schultz scuffle.—
Schuyler Dixon,
Chicago Tribune,
15 May 2025
Verb
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Gervais also mocked himself during his acceptance speech.—
Wesley Stenzel,
EW.com,
31 May 2025
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A week later, Rogan mocked Hawass and weighed in again on skeptical theories over who built the pyramids.—
Amira El-Fekki,
MSNBC Newsweek,
31 May 2025
Noun
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The site’s users took great joy in watching the feud in real time, responding to the showdown between the president and the world’s wealthiest man with jokes and memes.—
Dani Di Placido,
Forbes.com,
6 June 2025
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Surrounded by her animals at home, Lin watched re-runs of The Big Bang Theory, practicing the cadence of the words, the rising sound of a joke, the pacing of each phrase.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
6 June 2025
Verb
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Life is not imitating art for The White Lotus stars Walton Goggins and Aimee Lou Wood.—
Sydney Bucksbaum,
EW.com,
4 June 2025
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One example is the achievement of Heinz ketchup in validating its market dominance by showing how art imitates life, and AI imitates humans.—
John Werner,
Forbes.com,
29 May 2025
Noun
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The real Reubens, who died of cancer at 70 in 2023, bore little resemblance to either of these caricatures.—
Judy Berman,
Time,
30 May 2025
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And just opposite the cashier is a caricature of each member of the 2023-24 Primeira Liga-winning Sporting squad.—
Charlotte Harpur,
New York Times,
22 May 2025
Verb
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One of his owners, Craig Leipold, did, back in January.—
Pierre LeBrun,
New York Times,
5 June 2025
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While private schools such as Harvard do receive large numbers of exchange students, so do major public universities.—
Erin Mansfield,
USA Today,
4 June 2025
Noun
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Pottery Barn Outlet Bedding Deals There are plenty of deals on comfortable quilts, cozy comforters, and shams in the Pottery Barn bedding sale section.—
Stephanie Osmanski,
Better Homes & Gardens,
26 May 2025
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Quince often has Bundle & Save offers for up to 25% off select clothing and bedding sets with hotel-quality sheets, duvets, and shams.—
Alanna Martine Kilkeary,
Glamour,
20 May 2025
Cite this Entry
“Travesty.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/travesty. Accessed 10 Jun. 2025.
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