as in parody
a work that imitates and exaggerates another work for comic effect
it is interesting to note that the first novel ever written in English was followed by a burlesque of it
Synonyms & Similar Words
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as in to parody
to copy or exaggerate (someone or something) in order to make fun of
burlesquing the teacher's nervous tic isn't very nice
Synonyms & Similar Words
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of burlesque
Susan Morrison, The New Yorker, 13 Jan. 2025
During a stop on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon in June, Roan said horror movies, burlesque and theater also inspire her and her stylist Genesis Webb.
—Daniel S. Levine, People.com, 31 Dec. 2024
Armond White, National Review, 26 May 2023
The seeming callousness with which the dancers burlesque a fourteen-year-old’s death—the breezy way that the dance turns a killing into a sight gag—induces a shiver.
—Jody Rosen, The New Yorker, 7 Dec. 2022
See All Example Sentences for burlesque
Noun
The comedy derived from pie-in-the-face burlesque, but what distinguished the show was its frenetic pacing.
—Susan Morrison, The New Yorker, 13 Jan. 2025
During a stop on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon in June, Roan said horror movies, burlesque and theater also inspire her and her stylist Genesis Webb.
—Daniel S. Levine, People.com, 31 Dec. 2024
Verb
That song doesn’t belong in a film that promotes the era’s social fragmentation and repeats fatuous antagonisms — burlesqued by Melissa McCarthy playing the sea world’s villainous white-witch octopus Ursula.
—Armond White, National Review, 26 May 2023
The seeming callousness with which the dancers burlesque a fourteen-year-old’s death—the breezy way that the dance turns a killing into a sight gag—induces a shiver.
—Jody Rosen, The New Yorker, 7 Dec. 2022
See All Example Sentences for burlesque
Recent Examples of Synonyms for burlesque
Noun
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The original Spaceballs quite explicitly hints at a sequel in a scene between Lone Starr (a parody of Luke Skywalker and Han Solo) and the Yoda-esque character of Yogurt (played by Brooks).—
Maddie Garfinkle,
People.com,
13 June 2025
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The rest of the cast is uneven, with certain scenes played poorly enough to evoke parody.—
Jordan Mintzer,
HollywoodReporter,
11 June 2025
Verb
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Some right wingers will watch to mock the protesters or watch for signs of violence.—
Chris Morris,
Fortune,
14 June 2025
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The Baloncesto Superior Nacional league announced Tuesday that Cousins was kicked off the Mets de Guaynabo after a vile gesture toward a fan, grabbing his genitals to mock the fan as the fan flipped both his middle fingers.—
Scott Thompson,
FOXNews.com,
11 June 2025
Noun
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Other people and publications dug the Severance spoof — as of this writing, the Ravens’ reveal video had 9,000 likes on X and nearly 3,000 on YouTube (with 70,000 views).—
Tony Maglio,
HollywoodReporter,
16 May 2025
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However, fans were led to believe the spoof was still bothering her as she was photographed crying in London on Monday.—
Christina Dugan Ramirez,
FOXNews.com,
16 Apr. 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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Of course, expect plenty of satire, jokes, and colorful characters, but also lots of carnage in the name of science and saving the galaxy from strange rifts and capitalism.—
Fran Ruiz,
Space.com,
10 June 2025
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Theatrically released in 1999, the $10 million ensemble satire (which features supporting performances by Chris Rock, Salma Hayek, Alan Rickman, George Carlin, and Alanis Morissette as God) had immediately attracted controversy.—
Chris Lee,
Vulture,
10 June 2025
Cite this Entry
“Burlesque.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/burlesque. Accessed 20 Jun. 2025.
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