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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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
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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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Recent Examples of travesty
Hunter Ingram, Variety, 8 Nov. 2025
While many see the HUAC hearings as a travesty, others defend the House committee and the anti-communist fervor that inspired it.
—Kathy M. Newman, The Conversation, 8 Oct. 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
By the season’s end, in fact, more than a few travesties are laid at Peter’s feet.
—Verb
In 1933, the Marx Brothers mocked dictatorship with Duck Soup; three decades later, Kubrick and writer Terry Southern travestied the Bomb.
—Recent Examples of Synonyms for travesty
Noun
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The three-year Off-Broadway hit is a parody of the classic film Titanic, imagining the story as if Celine Dion were narrating it.—
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Maduro played the song at so many events that Chavistas (or Maduro supporters) began to claim it as pro-Maduro, even though Santana made it as a parody of the president.—
Noun
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The father-son duo recently filmed Spaceballs 2, the follow-up to the 1987 Star Wars spoof from comedy legend Mel Brooks and starring Bill.—
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Trcka expanded her career into films and television beginning with the horror spoof Scary Movie, which hit theaters in 2000.—
Verb
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During Glaser's interview with Stern, the shock jock praised her for mocking CBS News despite the Golden Globes airing on CBS.—
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The fan appeared to be mocking Parker for accepting the prestigious Carol Burnett Award from the Golden Globe Awards organization last week.—
Noun
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This life is not supposed to be a bad joke.—
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Jordan’s mom found that out early when host Nikki Glaser made a lusty joke about her son, then noticed Donna in the room and hastily fake apologized.—
Verb
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James said while walking through the venue, imitating her excitement.—
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When anchors John Dickerson and Maurice DuBois took over CBS Evening News last year, part of the network’s strategy was to imitate a local news format, with a genial cast of personalities reporting from the field.—
Noun
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Some of the Catholic and Jewish characters are caricatures, too, but this anonymous ideologue is a bit too understated for someone wanting to conscript another into deadly service and could benefit from the absurdist flair Cash deploys elsewhere.—
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In less careful hands, the role could have collapsed into caricature.—
Verb
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Once that’s done and completely turned off, use a small brush to clean around the disposal and inside it.—
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Warriors coach Steve Kerr spent most of Thursday’s pregame press conference doing his best to downplay multiple reports that Jonathan Kuminga requested a trade away from Golden State.—
Noun
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Both the pillow shams and bedding are made with a comfy cotton blend.—
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All of us know this is a sham and a shame.—
Cite this Entry
“Travesty.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/travesty. Accessed 20 Jan. 2026.
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