car·i·ca·ture
ˈker-i-kə-ˌchu̇r 
-ˌchər,
-ˌtyu̇r,
-ˌtu̇r,
ˈka-ri-
1
: exaggeration by means of often ludicrous distortion of parts or characteristics
drew a caricature of the president
2
: a representation especially in literature or art that has the qualities of caricature
His performance in the film was a caricature of a hard-boiled detective.
3
: a distortion so gross as to seem like caricature
The kangaroo court was a caricature of justice.
caricatured; caricaturing
: to make or draw a caricature of : represent in caricature
the portrait caricatured its subject
The comedian caricatured the governor as a pompous know-it-all.
Examples of caricature in a Sentence
Noun
An artist was doing caricatures in the park.
His performance in the film was a caricature of a hard-boiled detective.
The interview made her into a caricature of a struggling artist.
Verb
The press caricatured him as clumsy and forgetful.
caricatured the supervisor's distinctive walk
Recent Examples on the Web
Troy Renck, Denver Post, 28 May 2026
The event includes live entertainment, LAPD K9 officers and motorcycles, caricature drawings and face painting, a balloon artist, static displays of fire and police apparatus.
—Holly Andres, Daily News, 28 May 2026
Danielle Allen, The Atlantic, 21 May 2026
This idea of reasonableness is easily caricatured as moral timidity or a bloodless neutrality that drains politics of passion.
—Nikhil Krishnan, New Yorker, 20 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for caricature
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Noun
This was the man, not the caricature that Red Wings rivalry often framed him as.
—Troy Renck, Denver Post, 28 May 2026
The event includes live entertainment, LAPD K9 officers and motorcycles, caricature drawings and face painting, a balloon artist, static displays of fire and police apparatus.
—Holly Andres, Daily News, 28 May 2026
Verb
The first was King George III himself, a monarch often caricatured but in fact more attentive to the British constitutional tradition than his American detractors allowed.
—Danielle Allen, The Atlantic, 21 May 2026
This idea of reasonableness is easily caricatured as moral timidity or a bloodless neutrality that drains politics of passion.
—Nikhil Krishnan, New Yorker, 20 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for caricature
Cite this Entry
“Caricature.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/caricature. Accessed 31 May. 2026.
Copy CitationKids Definition
caricature
1 of 2 noun
car·i·ca·ture
ˈkar-i-kə-ˌchu̇(ə)r
-ˌt(y)u̇(ə)r
1
: exaggeration of the actions, parts, or features of someone or something usually for comic or satirical effect
2
: something (as a drawing) produced by using caricature
3
: something that seems like a caricature
caricature
2 of 2 verb
caricatured; caricaturing
: to make or draw a caricature of
caricaturist
noun
-ˌchu̇r-əst,
-ˌt(y)u̇r-əst
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