1
as in parody
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 spoof
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 to parody
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 travesty
Andres Oppenheimer
july 22, Miami Herald, 22 July 2025
France had claimed the island as a protectorate, in 1842; by the time Gauguin arrived, the bamboo buildings in the capital, Papeete, had been replaced by travesties of brick and iron.
—Alexandra Schwartz, New Yorker, 11 July 2025
The New Republic, 22 June 2023
Readers may be tempted to side at one moment with the defenders of Jewish caution and Jewish sentiment, however their instincts are travestied, and soon afterward with Zuckerman’s principled view of the autonomy of art.
—Cynthia Ozick, WSJ, 25 May 2018
See All Example Sentences for travesty
Noun
But the summit at Chile’s presidential palace was a travesty for several additional reasons.
—Andres Oppenheimer
july 22, Miami Herald, 22 July 2025
France had claimed the island as a protectorate, in 1842; by the time Gauguin arrived, the bamboo buildings in the capital, Papeete, had been replaced by travesties of brick and iron.
—Alexandra Schwartz, New Yorker, 11 July 2025
Verb
In 1933, the Marx Brothers mocked dictatorship with Duck Soup; three decades later, Kubrick and writer Terry Southern travestied the Bomb.
—The New Republic, 22 June 2023
Readers may be tempted to side at one moment with the defenders of Jewish caution and Jewish sentiment, however their instincts are travestied, and soon afterward with Zuckerman’s principled view of the autonomy of art.
—Cynthia Ozick, WSJ, 25 May 2018
See All Example Sentences for travesty
Recent Examples of Synonyms for travesty
Noun
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However the season's second episode, which features a parody of Charlie Kirk, continues to be absent from the schedule.—
Taijuan Moorman,
USA Today,
17 Sep. 2025
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However, this reboot is more so a parody that starts as a reboot, but is definitely not a reboot.—
James Brizuela,
MSNBC Newsweek,
17 Sep. 2025
Noun
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Alan Dershowitz, the famed attorney who once counted Epstein as a client, submitted a spoof cover of Vanity Fair, tweaked as Vanity Unfair, with fake headlines speculating that Epstein was Jack the Ripper and had financed the terrorist group Al Qaeda.—
Miles Klee,
Rolling Stone,
9 Sep. 2025
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Other early influences included a stint assisting Ken Shapiro, director of 1974’s pre-SNL sketch spoof The Groove Tube.—
Scott Roxborough,
HollywoodReporter,
27 Aug. 2025
Verb
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Many on the right have reacted strongly to those perceived to be celebrating or mocking Kirk's death, calling for consequences such as losing their jobs or in Omar's case, being censured.—
Alia Shoaib,
MSNBC Newsweek,
18 Sep. 2025
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Comedy Central responded to Kirk’s killing by pulling the episode mocking him from its regular rotation.—
Dominick Mastrangelo,
The Hill,
17 Sep. 2025
Noun
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But one Democratic member of the FCC tells her that Carr can't pull a license just because the administration doesn't like a joke or criticism.—
Brittney Melton,
NPR,
19 Sep. 2025
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After general manager Bill Guerin spoke to reporters, declining to go into detail about the ongoing contract negotiations, superstar winger Kirill Kaprizov spoke to reporters, as well, smiling big, cracking jokes, and declaring his love for Minnesota.—
Dane Mizutani,
Twin Cities,
19 Sep. 2025
Verb
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Later in the game, when officials did call a travel on Atlanta, Clark was seen imitating the gesture again, playfully.—
Jackson Thompson,
FOXNews.com,
17 Sep. 2025
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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
Noun
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The characters are turning into caricatures — especially Martin Short’s Oliver Putnam.—
Erik Kain,
Forbes.com,
13 Sep. 2025
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Easy isn’t a caricature, even if the people and events around him increasingly feel that way.—
Kate Erbland,
IndieWire,
12 Sep. 2025
Verb
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In addition to higher rates and fewer terms, Rocket also charges closing costs, which Third Federal does not.—
Kelsey Neubauer,
CNBC,
18 Sep. 2025
-
This is done through communication of leadership goals.—
Heather V. MacArthur,
Forbes.com,
18 Sep. 2025
Noun
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Participants were randomized to receive either active HD-tDCS therapy (at a current of 2 mA) or sham therapy for 20 minutes every day for 12 consecutive working days.—
New Atlas,
New Atlas,
16 Sep. 2025
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The quilt comes with two matching pillow shams for a unified look.—
Melody Kazel,
PEOPLE,
12 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Travesty.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/travesty. Accessed 20 Sep. 2025.
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