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
Colleen Bidwill, Mercury News, 16 June 2025
In addition to being a place to drink and do karaoke, Vern’s offered live entertainment, including burlesque shows and drag performances, held sip-and-paint classes and other events, and most recently hosted an adult Easter egg hunt.
—Gloria Casas, Chicago Tribune, 8 May 2025
Natalia Cano, Billboard, 11 Aug. 2025
That Dyer burlesque—of self-ravelling and unravelling—stretched across a memoir (though the narrative essentially ends at twenty-one) quickly takes on a quality of mock-heroic completism.
—James Wood, New Yorker, 14 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for burlesque
Noun
Ahead of the screening, Wolf took the time to reflect on the film and burlesque.
—Colleen Bidwill, Mercury News, 16 June 2025
In addition to being a place to drink and do karaoke, Vern’s offered live entertainment, including burlesque shows and drag performances, held sip-and-paint classes and other events, and most recently hosted an adult Easter egg hunt.
—Gloria Casas, Chicago Tribune, 8 May 2025
Verb
During that visit, Manson spoke about his friendship with French-Chilean artist Alejandro Jodorowsky, who lived in Mexico during the 1970s and 1980s and officiated Manson’s wedding to burlesque performer Dita Von Teese in Ireland in 2005.
—Natalia Cano, Billboard, 11 Aug. 2025
That Dyer burlesque—of self-ravelling and unravelling—stretched across a memoir (though the narrative essentially ends at twenty-one) quickly takes on a quality of mock-heroic completism.
—James Wood, New Yorker, 14 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for burlesque
Recent Examples of Synonyms for burlesque
Noun
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Regretting You is a similarly ridiculous and overwrought slice of melodrama, leavened with strange moments of comedy that leave you wondering if the whole thing isn’t some kind of bizarre art project, an elaborate, camp parody of the very notion of romantic literature itself.—
Damon Wise,
Deadline,
22 Oct. 2025
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This semester's show is a musical parody of Love Island called Love on an Island.—
Hannah Sacks,
PEOPLE,
20 Oct. 2025
Verb
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The principal of a Chicago elementary school that employs a teacher who appeared to mock the assassination of Charlie Kirk apparently portrayed the educator as a victim amid backlash over her behavior.—
Louis Casiano,
FOXNews.com,
22 Oct. 2025
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He has already been known to privately mock conservative pastors.—
Rev. Nathan Empsall,
MSNBC Newsweek,
21 Oct. 2025
Noun
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Damian Lewis, Ben Radcliffe, Thomasin McKenzie, and Tom Felton star in the upcoming spoof of British period dramas.—
Mike Miller,
Entertainment Weekly,
28 Oct. 2025
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Malin Akerman paid homage to her hilarious wig in Hunting Wives during a Halloween spoof for Sonic.—
Sabrina Weiss,
PEOPLE,
22 Oct. 2025
Verb
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In the spirit of art imitating life, the episode calls attention to the proliferation of potentially toxic chemicals in the products many of us slather daily on our face, body and hair.—
Sandee LaMotte,
CNN Money,
21 Oct. 2025
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This provides my son with an opportunity to imitate me verbally and gesturally.—
Hannah Nwoko,
Parents,
20 Oct. 2025
Noun
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There are some theatrical releases coming home for the first time, like a buzzy Julia Garner horror flick and a celebrity satire with Kate Hudson and Elisabeth Moss.—
Brian Truitt,
USA Today,
24 Oct. 2025
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Get Shorty remains a classic Hollywood satire and one of the great examples of the decade’s foray into meta films.—
Erik Morse,
Vogue,
23 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Burlesque.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/burlesque. Accessed 30 Oct. 2025.
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