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View synonyms for caricature

caricature

[ kar-i-kuh-cher, -choor ]

noun

  1. a picture, description, etc., ludicrously exaggerating the peculiarities or defects of persons or things:

    His caricature of the mayor in this morning's paper is the best he's ever drawn.

    Synonyms: cartoon

  2. the art or process of producing such pictures, descriptions, etc.
  3. any imitation or copy so distorted or inferior as to be ludicrous.

    Synonyms: travesty



verb (used with object)

caricatured, caricaturing.
  1. to make a caricature of; represent in caricature.

caricature

/ ˈkærɪkəˌtjʊə /

noun

  1. a pictorial, written, or acted representation of a person, which exaggerates his characteristic traits for comic effect
  2. a ludicrously inadequate or inaccurate imitation

    he is a caricature of a statesman

“Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged” 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

verb

  1. tr to represent in caricature or produce a caricature of
“Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged” 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

caricature

  1. In art or literature, portrayal of an individual or thing that exaggerates and distorts prominent characteristics so as to make them appear ridiculous. Caricature is commonly a medium for satire .
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Derived Forms

  • ˈcaricaˌtural, adjective
  • ˈcaricaˌturist, noun
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Other Word Forms

  • cari·ca·tur·a·ble adjective
  • cari·ca·tural adjective
  • cari·ca·tur·ist noun
  • self-cari·ca·ture noun
  • semi·cari·ca·tural adjective
  • un·cari·ca·tured adjective
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Word History and Origins

Origin of caricature1

1740–50; earlier caricatura < Italian, equivalent to caricat(o) loaded, i.e., distorted (past participle of caricare; charge ) + -ura -ure
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Word History and Origins

Origin of caricature1

C18: from Italian caricatura a distortion, exaggeration, from caricare to load, exaggerate; see cargo
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Synonym Study

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Example Sentences

Examples have not been reviewed.

Unlike some other “Cheers” regulars, there was no caricature in his character.

And they defy their caricature of red-eyed, bloodthirsty beasts.

Modern Western culture caricatures vultures as undertakers, grim harbingers of death and hardly ideal images of maternal love.

From Salon

We see it in the infamous "Mar-a-Lago" face, which uses plastic surgery and spackled-on make-up to turn women into terrifyingly exaggerated caricatures of femininity.

From Salon

After the show aired, Wood, 31, said she was "not thin skinned" and understood that SNL was about "caricature".

From BBC

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