Definition of CARICATURE (original) (raw)
1
: exaggeration by means of often ludicrous distortion of parts or characteristics
drew a caricature of the president
2
: a representation especially in literature or art that has the qualities of caricature
His performance in the film was a caricature of a hard-boiled detective.
3
: a distortion so gross as to seem like caricature
The kangaroo court was a caricature of justice.
: to make or draw a caricature of : represent in caricature
the portrait caricatured its subject
The comedian caricatured the governor as a pompous know-it-all.
Synonyms
Choose the Right Synonym for caricature
caricatures of politicians in cartoons
burlesque implies mockery especially through giving a serious or lofty subject a frivolous treatment.
a nightclub burlesque of a trial in court
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
travesty implies that the subject remains unchanged but that the style is extravagant or absurd.
this production is a travesty of the opera
Examples of caricature in a Sentence
Noun
An artist was doing caricatures in the park. His performance in the film was a caricature of a hard-boiled detective. The interview made her into a caricature of a struggling artist. Verb
The press caricatured him as clumsy and forgetful. caricatured the supervisor's distinctive walk
Recent Examples on the Web
Outside of the moderator’s fact checking, Trump’s violent caricature of migrant people stood without objection. —
Brea Baker, refinery29.com, 11 Sep. 2024 But this caricature obscures a long-standing tension between academic freedom and the rigid bureaucracies endemic to higher learning institutions. —Hazlitt, 4 Sep. 2024
As is human nature, the two sides caricature each other and try to demonize each other. —Caroline Mimbs Nyce, The Atlantic, 21 Aug. 2024 The videos can showcase her humanity, expertise, worldviews, and blunt Republican efforts to caricature her. —Allison Lange / Made By History, TIME, 6 Aug. 2024 See all Example Sentences for caricature 
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'caricature.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Word History
Etymology
Noun and Verb
Italian caricatura, literally, act of loading, from caricare to load, from Late Latin carricare
First Known Use
Noun
1712, in the meaning defined at sense 1
Verb
circa 1771, in the meaning defined above
Time Traveler
The first known use of caricature was in 1712
Dictionary Entries Near caricature
Cite this Entry
“Caricature.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/caricature. Accessed 19 Sep. 2024.
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Last Updated: 16 Sep 2024 - Updated example sentences
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