PARODY Synonyms: 85 Similar and Opposite Words

Q: 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

Q: 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

Q: 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

Q: 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

parody 1 of 2

noun

ˈper-ə-dē

Definition of parody

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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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

as in to mock

to copy or exaggerate (someone or something) in order to make fun of parodying a public figure's distinctive mannerisms takes particular talent

Synonyms & Similar Words

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 punch-worthy parody of Altman’s characterization ramps up once he’s motivated to push back against — or trample over — the safety guardrails that Ilya prizes above all else, but so does the depth of his world-breaking cynicism. — David Ehrlich, IndieWire, 6 Oct. 2026 Of course, this being a MAGA parody and being SNL, the joke had to go further. — Dominic Patten, Deadline, 3 Oct. 2026

Verb

The White House announced the arcade on X with several animations that parodied older gaming logos like Xbox and brands like Sega. — Kimberlee Speakman, PEOPLE, 4 Sep. 2026 Jules Dassin’s Rififi (1955) and Stanley Kubrick’s The Killing (1956) further refined the formula, while a number of decidedly sillier capers in the ’60s both parodied and advanced the genre, helping set the stage for the modern Ocean’s movies. — Declan Gallagher, Entertainment Weekly, 3 Sep. 2026 See All Example Sentences for parody

Recent Examples of Synonyms for parody

Noun

Was there ever a thought that maybe the whole movie should just be a ’90s spoof?

— Mike Ryan, IndieWire, 16 Oct. 2026
Blanchett cofounded the nonprofit Human Consent Foundation to help people register how AI models can — or cannot — scrape their likenesses in an effort to combat such spoofs.

— Corbin Bolies, Variety, 13 Oct. 2026

Definition of spoof

Noun

Its frothy, pastel hues and single moment of contrived levity (when one dance claims a trumpet solo for a joke about jamming her toe) is one of those quintessential examples of Balanchine’s repertoire showing its age.

— Lauren Warnecke, Chicago Tribune, 18 Oct. 2026
And the Longhorns’ quarterback, Arch Manning, was the butt of the joke.

— Noah White, Miami Herald, 18 Oct. 2026

Definition of joke

Verb

Critics mocked Zacharia’s performance during her first and last press conference on Tuesday, and ripped her for describing herself as an attorney, despite having never passed the bar exam.

— Emily Hallas, The Washington Examiner, 16 Oct. 2026
The Difference Between Names And Dynamics Richard Feynman recalled being mocked by another child for not knowing a bird’s name.

— Pravir Malik, Forbes.com, 16 Oct. 2026

Definition of mock

Noun

The author behind the singular Elizabeth Zott returns with ‘Peck & Peck,’ a sharp, charming satire on the pretensions and perils of literary gatekeepers.

— Leigh Haber, Los Angeles Times, 13 Oct. 2026
Previous Disney Germany shows nclude Call my Agent Berlin, Jörg Winger’s Sam – A Saxon and The Interpreter of Silence, while upcoming is Austrian satire Vienna Game, thriller Nele Neuhaus Monster and Swiss production Under the Ice.

— Max Goldbart, Deadline, 12 Oct. 2026

Definition of satire

Noun

Conversations around racial caricature have evolved; what was edgy feels painfully passé.

— Eugenie Brinkema, ARTnews.com, 17 Oct. 2026
As is the case with most election cycles, the claims and counterclaims about the ballot measures being voted on in California this time around are largely based on caricatures of the measures themselves.

— Business Columnist, Los Angeles Times, 16 Oct. 2026

Definition of caricature

Noun

Now their lives are a haunted, claustrophobic cartoon, and Golyak revels in its theatrical opportunities.

— Sara Holdren, Vulture, 14 Oct. 2026
The candle smells of cereal, milk and lemon and is intended to recall the days of watching Saturday morning cartoons and summer.

— Emma Hall, Sacbee.com, 10 Oct. 2026

Definition of cartoon

Verb

PhotoTat can have additional practical applications, including for medical tattoos like those done on cancer patients undergoing radiation therapy.

— Devika Rao, TheWeek, 19 Oct. 2026
OpenAI has reportedly floated the idea of giving the government up to a 5% stake in the company and suggested other leading AI companies do the same.

— Sarah Cannon, Fortune, 18 Oct. 2026

Definition of do

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parodists

parody

parodying

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“Parody.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/parody. Accessed 21 Oct. 2026.

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