1
as in parody
a poor, insincere, or insulting imitation of something
rigged from the start, his trial was a travesty of justice
Synonyms & Similar Words
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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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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of travesty
Ivan Pereira, ABC News, 18 Apr. 2025
Karen Read’s local attorney, David Yannetti, has to be even more prudent in his comments about this recent travesty of justice in Dedham.
—Howie Carr, Boston Herald, 22 June 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
What shocks me is he's remained silent on the travesty that happened on the southern border.
—Ivan Pereira, ABC News, 18 Apr. 2025
Karen Read’s local attorney, David Yannetti, has to be even more prudent in his comments about this recent travesty of justice in Dedham.
—Howie Carr, Boston Herald, 22 June 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
-
Bud Light plans to run a parody of the series, which gives fans up-close looks at the seasons of top NFL quarterbacks, via social media.—
Brian Steinberg,
Variety,
10 July 2025
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His mask is a stitched thing — lipless, white, eerily smooth yet rugged — a grim parody of life.—
Daphne Woolsoncroft,
People.com,
8 July 2025
Noun
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One of Ferrell’s biggest and best movies was this hilarious racing spoof, which followed the rise and fall and rise of a smug champion racer, his complicated friendship with best pal and fellow racer John C. Reilly, and his rivalry with an effete, snotty Frenchman played by Sacha Baron Cohen.—
Bilge Ebiri,
Vulture,
27 June 2025
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Just as impressive is Brooks stepping back into the shoes of Yogurt (his merchandising Yoda spoof), just a year away from his hundredth birthday.—
Josh Weiss,
Forbes.com,
24 June 2025
Verb
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And of course, that following Sunday, Oliver did indeed mock his corporate bosses for the move.—
Michael Schneider,
Variety,
8 July 2025
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Many wanted Tiger to comment, but others chose to mock Williams.—
Devlina Sarkar,
MSNBC Newsweek,
5 July 2025
Noun
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And beyond the viral jokes littering Palmer’s comments are thousands of seemingly serious comments calling her video just an example of how leaning into feminine roles can be self care.—
CT Jones,
Rolling Stone,
11 July 2025
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Sriram peppers her debut with offbeat characters, sometimes giving them names that are jokes in and of themselves.—
Murtada Elfadl,
Variety,
11 July 2025
Verb
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His celebration imitated him sitting down playing a video game – a tribute to his former Portugal teammate Diogo Jota who died in a car crash last week.—
Ben Morse,
CNN Money,
10 July 2025
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And beyond device checks, smart verification systems can also monitor behavioral signals—like typing speed, location, or login habits—to spot anomalies that a cloned voice can’t imitate.—
Sharon Goldman,
Fortune,
10 July 2025
Noun
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Despite this blanket ban on racist caricatures, the hateful Veo 3 videos appear to be spreading unchecked.—
ArsTechnica,
ArsTechnica,
2 July 2025
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Many of Kidman’s better wigs are blonde or shoulder length, but this unfortunately doesn’t ring true for the HBO movie Hemingway & Gellhorn, which stars Clive Owen as a caricature of Ernest Hemingway and a Golden Globe–nominated Kidman as his wife, the journalist Martha Gellhorn.—
Jihane Bousfiha,
Vulture,
2 July 2025
Verb
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In complex or regulated environments, speed matters, but so does cross-functional orchestration that accounts for the nuances of the situation.—
Gary Drenik,
Forbes.com,
10 July 2025
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The agency was in great peril, as there was no one in headquarters who could push back on harmful things being done to NASA or get things done.—
ArsTechnica,
ArsTechnica,
10 July 2025
Noun
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All sets come with two matching pillow shams to complete your bedroom look.—
Mariana Best,
Better Homes & Gardens,
7 July 2025
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The basics that all comforter sets include are the comforter and one pillow sham, with some sets including an extra sham.—
BestReviews,
Mercury News,
24 June 2025
Cite this Entry
“Travesty.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/travesty. Accessed 18 Jul. 2025.
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