PARODY Synonyms: 85 Similar and Opposite Words

Q: How does the noun 'parody' differ from other similar words?

Some common synonyms of parody are burlesque , caricature , and travesty . While all these words mean "a comic or grotesque imitation," parody applies especially to treatment of a trivial or ludicrous subject in the exactly imitated style of a well-known author or work. // a witty parody of a popular novel

Q: Where would 'burlesque' be a reasonable alternative to 'parody'?

The words burlesque and parody are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, burlesque implies mockery especially through giving a serious or lofty subject a frivolous treatment. // a nightclub burlesque of a trial in court

Q: When is 'caricature' a more appropriate choice than 'parody'?

Although the words caricature and parody have much in common, caricature implies ludicrous exaggeration of the characteristic features of a subject. // caricatures of politicians in cartoons

Q: When could 'travesty' be used to replace 'parody'?

The synonyms travesty and parody are sometimes interchangeable, but travesty implies that the subject remains unchanged but that the style is extravagant or absurd. // this production is a travesty of the opera

parody 1 of 2

noun

ˈper-ə-dē

Definition of parody

as in spoof

a work that imitates and exaggerates another work for comic effect the musical is a parody of every biblical epic ever made

Synonyms & Similar Words

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as in joke

a poor, insincere, or insulting imitation of something the young man sported a feeble parody of a mustache in a vain attempt to make himself look older

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

parody

2 of 2

verb

as in to mock

to copy or exaggerate (someone or something) in order to make fun of parodying a public figure's distinctive mannerisms takes particular talent

Synonyms & Similar Words

Synonym Chooser

How does the noun parody differ from other similar words?

Some common synonyms of parody are burlesque, caricature, and travesty. While all these words mean "a comic or grotesque imitation," parody applies especially to treatment of a trivial or ludicrous subject in the exactly imitated style of a well-known author or work.

a witty parody of a popular novel

Where would burlesque be a reasonable alternative to parody?

The words burlesque and parody are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, burlesque implies mockery especially through giving a serious or lofty subject a frivolous treatment.

a nightclub burlesque of a trial in court

When is caricature a more appropriate choice than parody?

Although the words caricature and parody have much in common, caricature implies ludicrous exaggeration of the characteristic features of a subject.

caricatures of politicians in cartoons

When could travesty be used to replace parody?

The synonyms travesty and parody are sometimes interchangeable, but travesty implies that the subject remains unchanged but that the style is extravagant or absurd.

this production is a travesty of the opera

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 parody

Noun

Rainbow continued to jab the secretary of health as his primary opposition throughout the parody of the Frank Loesser song. — Michael Saponara, Billboard, 14 Oct. 2026 The five stars teased the project with parodies of their characters in a promo video. — Jason P. Frank, Vulture, 13 Oct. 2026

Verb

The White House announced the arcade on X with several animations that parodied older gaming logos like Xbox and brands like Sega. — Kimberlee Speakman, PEOPLE, 4 Sep. 2026 Jules Dassin’s Rififi (1955) and Stanley Kubrick’s The Killing (1956) further refined the formula, while a number of decidedly sillier capers in the ’60s both parodied and advanced the genre, helping set the stage for the modern Ocean’s movies. — Declan Gallagher, Entertainment Weekly, 3 Sep. 2026 See All Example Sentences for parody

Recent Examples of Synonyms for parody

Noun

The film draws on 1980s supernatural comedies, including Back to the Future, Ghostbusters and The Addams Family, alongside classic monster movies and horror spoofs.

— Scott Roxborough, HollywoodReporter, 22 Oct. 2026
Was there ever a thought that maybe the whole movie should just be a ’90s spoof?

— Mike Ryan, IndieWire, 16 Oct. 2026

Definition of spoof

Verb

As proof of how much of a joke this has become for people is that a sketch mocking their drama was part of the October 10 episode of Saturday Night Live UK.

— Lizzie Lanuza, StyleCaster, 21 Oct. 2026
There were earlier versions of this story that were openly mocking of Kip, versions that threw Leo under the bus for being too sly; versions that were too overtly political; versions with ghosts that didn’t need to be there, and so on.

— Deborah Treisman, New Yorker, 18 Oct. 2026

Definition of mock

Noun

But the director’s crowd-pleasing instincts had devolved into cutesy self-congratulation by the time his wildly overpraised, Holocaust-trivializing satire Jojo Rabbit came along.

— David Rooney, HollywoodReporter, 20 Oct. 2026
Her songs embrace a wide range of moods and emotions, from unique takes on relationships to political satire.

— Jem Aswad, Variety, 20 Oct. 2026

Definition of satire

Noun

But on that score, too, Jackson tries to soften the caricature of the billionaire executive.

— ABC News, ABC News, 24 Oct. 2026
What is acceptable in today’s society is the Real Housewives franchise, where all of these things kind of play out, but almost in caricature.

— Raymond Ang, Vogue, 24 Oct. 2026

Definition of caricature

Verb

Rather than simply imitating the brain with silicon chips, the approach uses actual neurons to perform computational work.

— Mike McRae October 19, New Atlas, 20 Oct. 2026
Others could imitate but never replicate; their coolness was predicated on their originality.

— Brady Brickner-Wood, New Yorker, 19 Oct. 2026

Definition of imitate

Noun

There’s a dazzling variety available, from madeleine pans to cartoon character pans to massive stacks of wedding cake pans, both round and square.

— Anne Ewbank, Sacbee.com, 21 Oct. 2026
The character creator is impressive, too, with a huge number of unlockable outfits and accessories, as well as classic alien races from the movies and cartoons.

— Brad Bourque, The Verge, 21 Oct. 2026

Definition of cartoon

Verb

There are rippling gasps, drums, strings, sax, a vaguely Latin guitar, a sample of a woman talking about getting her hair done.

— Kieran Press-Reynolds, Pitchfork, 26 Oct. 2026
Sellers who have the option to pull their listing off the market are generally doing so.

— Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 26 Oct. 2026

Definition of do

Browse Nearby Words

parodists

parody

parodying

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“Parody.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/parody. Accessed 28 Oct. 2026.

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Synonyms of parody

noun

verb

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