caricature

1 of 2

noun

car·​i·​ca·​ture ˈker-i-kə-ˌchu̇r How to pronounce caricature (audio)
-ˌchər,
-ˌtyu̇r,
-ˌtu̇r,
ˈka-ri-
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.
caricatural
ˌker-i-kə-ˈchu̇r-əl How to pronounce caricature (audio)
-ˈchər-
-ˈtyu̇r-
-ˈtu̇r-
ˌka-ri-
adjective
caricaturist
ˈker-i-kə-ˌchu̇r-ist How to pronounce caricature (audio)
-ˌchər-
-ˌtyu̇r-
-ˌtu̇r-
ˈka-ri-
noun

caricature

2 of 2

verb

caricatured; caricaturing

transitive verb

: 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.
Choose the Right Synonym for caricature

caricature, burlesque, parody, travesty mean a comic or grotesque imitation.

caricature implies ludicrous exaggeration of the characteristic features of a subject.

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
Noun
The image — also tweeted by Ice Cube — was taken from a notorious London mural featuring antisemitic caricatures of businessmen. Seth Abramovitch, The Hollywood Reporter, 14 Mar. 2024 And Simu Liu plays Leo, a caricature of a social media influencer who, of course, is more about self-promotion than teamwork. Thomas Floyd, Washington Post, 13 Mar. 2024 In fact, Brad is a caricature that serves a cynical take on higher education. John M. Crisp, The Mercury News, 12 Mar. 2024 Her character sings, cries and endures a Greek tragedy of a downfall, but instead of being a caricature, Chastain finds the soul of a complex, good-hearted woman. Brian Truitt, USA TODAY, 4 Mar. 2024 The seven books below represent a wide range of writing and art styles—outlandish caricature and precise, realistic line work; satirical prose and devastating narratives; fiction and nonfiction. Kristen Radtke, The Atlantic, 21 Feb. 2024 Now in New York, where she’s enamored by Times Square, the Empire State Building and caricature artists, Elsbeth moves to the Big Apple to act as an outside observer for the Justice Department to ensure the NYPD works by the book. Aramide Tinubu, Variety, 28 Feb. 2024 Most of what came out of Hollywood and on television was kind of a caricature of what life is really like. Stuart Miller, Orange County Register, 14 Feb. 2024 Enjoy live music and performers, local vendors, delicious food, live painting, tarot readings, couples caricatures, mural displays, a health and wellness corner, face painting, dance classes and a bounce house. Brittany Delay, The Mercury News, 5 Feb. 2024
Verb
In terms of style, the Welfare Queen, like the Mob Wife, is often caricatured as wearing big hair, flashy clothes, and gaudy jewelry. Aneliza Ruiz, Los Angeles Times, 27 Feb. 2024 Fearing precisely such a result, officials in Beijing have long tried to caricature Taiwan as slavishly imitating Western forms of governance. Andrew S. Erickson, Foreign Affairs, 16 Feb. 2024 Meanwhile, Zappa’s lyrics scrutinized his then-youthful fan base, caricaturing the counterculture with the cartoonish strokes of a melodic R. Crumb. Daniel Felsenthal, The Atlantic, 27 Nov. 2023 The trip was a remarkably gruelling one for any President to make, let alone an eighty-year-old often caricatured by his Republican foes as a doddering octogenarian. Susan B. Glasser, The New Yorker, 20 Oct. 2023 Too often, trust and safety teams get caricatured as partisan scolds and censors. Casey Newton, The Verge, 20 Oct. 2023 His campaign had repeatedly caricatured both nonwhites and non-Christians as threats to U.S. national security and indeed to Americans themselves. Bruce Hoffman and Jacob Ware, Foreign Affairs, 19 Sep. 2023 Moreover, what do the businessmen caricatured in the film think? Brooks Barnes, New York Times, 8 Sep. 2023 With no facts to support this assertion, Kenyon resorts to caricature. Olivia Gentile, BostonGlobe.com, 28 July 2023

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 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

caricature

1 of 2 noun
car·​i·​ca·​ture ˈkar-i-kə-ˌchu̇(ə)r How to pronounce caricature (audio)
-ˌt(y)u̇(ə)r
1
: exaggeration of the actions, parts, or features of someone or something usually for comic or satirical effect
2
: something (as a drawing) produced by using caricature
3
: something that seems like a caricature

caricature

2 of 2 verb
caricatured; caricaturing
: to make or draw a caricature of
caricaturist
-ˌchu̇r-əst
-ˌt(y)u̇r-əst
noun

More from Merriam-Webster on caricature

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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