1
as in parodies
a poor, insincere, or insulting imitation of something
that TV network's reporting is a mere caricature of real journalism
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in spoofs
a work that imitates and exaggerates another work for comic effect
the artist creates caricatures of famous paintings by replacing humans with cats
Synonyms & Similar Words
3
as in exaggerations
the representation of something in terms that go beyond the facts
the mayor has presented only a caricature of his opponent's views
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in mocks
to copy or exaggerate (someone or something) in order to make fun of
caricatured the supervisor's distinctive walk
Synonyms & Similar Words
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 caricatures
Erik Kain, Forbes.com, 13 Sep. 2025
The director was careful to avoid creating caricatures of religious figures.
—Naman Ramachandran, Variety, 6 Sep. 2025
The same red flannel was often featured in caricatures of Mammy.
—Danielle Amir Jackson, The Atlantic, 4 Sep. 2025
The rapport between these two veteran actors turn what could have been seriously dodgy caricatures into a first-rate double act — think Abbott and Costello with sidecurls and silencers.
—David Fear, Rolling Stone, 28 Aug. 2025
The Sex Lives of College Girls took an honorable stab, but the characters can feel like caricatures.
—Nikki Sternberg, HollywoodReporter, 18 Aug. 2025
In interviews with more than 30 lawmakers, political figures, supporters, friends, and critics, Mamdani emerges as both more interesting and more complicated than the caricatures suggest.
—Mark Chiusano, Time, 14 Aug. 2025
Noun
The characters are turning into caricatures — especially Martin Short’s Oliver Putnam.
—Erik Kain, Forbes.com, 13 Sep. 2025
The director was careful to avoid creating caricatures of religious figures.
—Naman Ramachandran, Variety, 6 Sep. 2025
The same red flannel was often featured in caricatures of Mammy.
—Danielle Amir Jackson, The Atlantic, 4 Sep. 2025
The rapport between these two veteran actors turn what could have been seriously dodgy caricatures into a first-rate double act — think Abbott and Costello with sidecurls and silencers.
—David Fear, Rolling Stone, 28 Aug. 2025
The Sex Lives of College Girls took an honorable stab, but the characters can feel like caricatures.
—Nikki Sternberg, HollywoodReporter, 18 Aug. 2025
In interviews with more than 30 lawmakers, political figures, supporters, friends, and critics, Mamdani emerges as both more interesting and more complicated than the caricatures suggest.
—Mark Chiusano, Time, 14 Aug. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for caricatures
Noun
-
Attention-grabbing highlights of the first season included Land Shark, commercial parodies like Bass-O-Matic and host Richard Pryor’s word association with Chase.—
Ryan Gajewski,
HollywoodReporter,
14 Sep. 2025
-
Last year, in response to some political parodies that used images created by artificial intelligence, including one that pilloried Vice President Kamala Harris, the Legislature passed and Newsom signed two measures to outlaw such tomfoolery.—
Dan Walters,
Mercury News,
5 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
Today, Neeson is doing action spoofs (thank God), and even the John Wick series has run its course.—
Bilge Ebiri,
Vulture,
13 Aug. 2025
Noun
-
Despite the mess in her apartment, the man, like everyone else in her life, brushes off her fears as the exaggerations of an overactive imagination.—
Marya E. Gates,
IndieWire,
9 Sep. 2025
-
In the Coen brothers’ films, wondrous coincidences and absurd exaggerations come off as a comic cosmic order, as a cynical version of metaphysics.—
Richard Brody,
New Yorker,
21 Aug. 2025
Verb
-
Student imitates Charlie Kirk's death and mocks him, goes up to statue where TPUSA members are and imitates his death again, and spits near them.—
Nick Mordowanec,
MSNBC Newsweek,
16 Sep. 2025
-
YouTube's policies specifically prohibit content that revels in or mocks the death or serious injury of an identifiable individual.—
Kurt Knutsson,
FOXNews.com,
13 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
Oto goes beyond basic greetings, chatting with guests, telling jokes, sharing historical facts, and even suggesting local activities.—
Sujita Sinha,
Interesting Engineering,
17 Sep. 2025
-
These jokes revolved around the idea of misusing objects, like putting food on their heads, and pretend play like washing hands without soap or water.—
Jack Beresford,
MSNBC Newsweek,
16 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
In fact, the outing displayed an exploration of embellishment for Hudson as several styles featured intricate embroideries.—
Roxanne Robinson,
Forbes.com,
13 Sep. 2025
-
The tradition muted palette gets a graphic update courtesy of pops of color informed by school pennants, an LV monogram tartan, as well as on theme embroideries and crests that extend to small accessories in the form of what are sure to be covetable caps, scarves, and ties.—
Naomi Rougeau,
Robb Report,
12 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
Student imitates Charlie Kirk's death and mocks him, goes up to statue where TPUSA members are and imitates his death again, and spits near them.—
Nick Mordowanec,
MSNBC Newsweek,
16 Sep. 2025
-
Sometimes art imitates life by skipping a generation.—
Lisa Respers France,
CNN Money,
2 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
Last year the park swung open the doors to equally ingenious fairytale rides themed to the Frozen, Tangled and Peter Pan cartoons.—
Caroline Reid,
Forbes.com,
13 Sep. 2025
-
Sixty-five percent of respondents in low-income countries were exposed to them, too, including at school, on social media, at sporting events and in cartoons.—
Deirdre Bardolf,
FOXNews.com,
13 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Caricatures.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/caricatures. Accessed 21 Sep. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share