1
as in parodies
a poor, insincere, or insulting imitation of something
rigged from the start, his trial was a travesty of justice
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in spoofs
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
Synonyms & Similar Words
as in mocks
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 travesties
Hunter Ingram, Variety, 8 Nov. 2025
Noun
By the season’s end, in fact, more than a few travesties are laid at Peter’s feet.
—Hunter Ingram, Variety, 8 Nov. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for travesties
Noun
-
The sequel reboot brings original franchise stars Marlon, Shawn, Anna Faris and Regina Hall back to the world of horror movie parodies.—
Jack Smart,
PEOPLE,
5 June 2026
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Its various iterations have managed to hold viewers' attention in the years since (the 2009 sibling version inspired a slew of parodies and fan fiction).—
Rachel Treisman,
NPR,
20 May 2026
Noun
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Based on the Apple TV series, the fizzy throwback spoofs Golden Age musicals, and follows an on-the-rocks couple who are trapped in a town where people sing and dance incessantly.—
Patrick Ryan,
USA Today,
8 June 2026
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There would be more scripted and carefully choreographed moments in his TV spots for Calvin Klein jeans and Obsession, collaborations with the writer Doon Arbus (daughter of Diane and Allan Arbus) that took chances (and which, for some viewers, are inseparable from memorable spoofs on SNL).—
Sheri Linden,
HollywoodReporter,
17 May 2026
Verb
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Today’s newsletter highlights Burt Jones mocks Rick Jackson’s explanation for missing today’s debate.—
Adam Beam,
AJC.com,
1 June 2026
-
Sam mocks Blaine’s fear, reminding him that death comes for us all.—
Dani Di Placido,
Forbes.com,
28 May 2026
Noun
-
Oftentimes Black artists are seen as caricatures or one-dimensional.—
Stuart Miller,
Los Angeles Times,
9 June 2026
-
Can storytelling help move audiences beyond caricatures, outrage, and contempt?—
Dana Taylor,
USA Today,
3 June 2026
Verb
-
But neither painting nor photography imitates nature.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
10 June 2026
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What makes the campaign especially convincing is that each stage imitates familiar Apple, Google or Microsoft software behavior many Mac users already trust and routinely encounter.—
Davey Winder,
Forbes.com,
18 May 2026
Noun
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The day shift also starts making factory-work jokes, with Rekha playing a perky do-bee who just wants to make the boss happy, and Lily adopting an agitator role, demanding workman’s comp and trying to spark revolt.—
Tasha Robinson,
Vulture,
16 June 2026
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Even comedian Shane Gillis, who's been in hot water for his own distasteful jokes, wasn't a fan of Hokit's words.—
Leigh Blickley,
Entertainment Weekly,
15 June 2026
Cite this Entry
“Travesties.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/travesties. Accessed 17 Jun. 2026.
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