1
as in spoofs
a work that imitates and exaggerates another work for comic effect
the musical is a parody of every biblical epic ever made
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2
as in jokes
a poor, insincere, or insulting imitation of something
the young man sported a feeble parody of a mustache in a vain attempt to make himself look older
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in mocks
to copy or exaggerate (someone or something) in order to make fun of
parodying a public figure's distinctive mannerisms takes particular talent
Synonyms & Similar Words
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of parodies
Theater Critic, Los Angeles Times, 29 Apr. 2026
While the show featured many of the same characters, its format strayed from the sci-fi space narrative of Spaceballs and instead was a series of parodies, each episode serving as a satirical commentary on several contemporary hits, such as Lord of the Rings, American Idol and Harry Potter.
—Maddie Garfinkle, PEOPLE, 16 Apr. 2026
Human artists have designed creative parodies of AI slop, but AI lacks the necessary self-awareness to parody itself, even with a human behind the wheel.
—Cath Virginia, The Verge, 11 Apr. 2026
How did Jane Lynch wind up in the YouTube ad parodies?
—Michael Schneider, Variety, 16 Mar. 2026
Countless memes and parodies have circulated online.
—Melina Khan, USA Today, 9 Mar. 2026
There have been countless parodies of the mega-viral ad and lots of unofficial merch created in its honor.
—Shania Russell, Entertainment Weekly, 3 Mar. 2026
Martin’s dry, precise mischief colliding with Short’s elastic characters and musical parodies, plus top-tier musicianship.
—Lucia Cheng, Des Moines Register, 10 Feb. 2026
The Democrats circa 2026 have almost become tax-and-spend parodies of themselves.
—Stephen Moore, Boston Herald, 7 Feb. 2026
Alexander Durie, Time, 3 Mar. 2026
Newsom has been trying to raise his national profile, adopting a combative style that parodies Trump’s social media strategy with similar all-caps posts, memes and merchandise.
—Adriana Gomez Licon, Fortune, 26 Oct. 2025
In another nod to Scream, Cheri Oteri parodies Courteney Cox’s Gale Weathers as the comically unethical news anchor Gail Hailstorm.
—Skyler Trepel, Entertainment Weekly, 19 Oct. 2025
One of the videos adorably parodies the premiere episode with Katar and Sokka discovering Aang and battling Zuko and the Fire Nation.
—Jordan Moreau, Variety, 12 Oct. 2025
For the social media stars — whose content parodies their real lives through comedic skits — the new baby will also present an opportunity for new kinds of videos.
—Luke Chinman, People.com, 25 Aug. 2025
South Park’s Eric Cartman parodies Kirk in the episode by asking a college student a question, referencing Kirk’s viral debates on college campuses.
—Sydney Topf, The Washington Examiner, 8 Aug. 2025
Noun
Broadway, top-heavy with musical parodies and attention-grabbing revivals, is having a strange season by all accounts.
—Theater Critic, Los Angeles Times, 29 Apr. 2026
While the show featured many of the same characters, its format strayed from the sci-fi space narrative of Spaceballs and instead was a series of parodies, each episode serving as a satirical commentary on several contemporary hits, such as Lord of the Rings, American Idol and Harry Potter.
—Maddie Garfinkle, PEOPLE, 16 Apr. 2026
Human artists have designed creative parodies of AI slop, but AI lacks the necessary self-awareness to parody itself, even with a human behind the wheel.
—Cath Virginia, The Verge, 11 Apr. 2026
How did Jane Lynch wind up in the YouTube ad parodies?
—Michael Schneider, Variety, 16 Mar. 2026
Countless memes and parodies have circulated online.
—Melina Khan, USA Today, 9 Mar. 2026
There have been countless parodies of the mega-viral ad and lots of unofficial merch created in its honor.
—Shania Russell, Entertainment Weekly, 3 Mar. 2026
Martin’s dry, precise mischief colliding with Short’s elastic characters and musical parodies, plus top-tier musicianship.
—Lucia Cheng, Des Moines Register, 10 Feb. 2026
The Democrats circa 2026 have almost become tax-and-spend parodies of themselves.
—Stephen Moore, Boston Herald, 7 Feb. 2026
Verb
Ben Hania’s film before that, 2020’s Oscar-nominated The Man Who Sold His Skin, parodies the art world’s fetishization of refugees.
—Alexander Durie, Time, 3 Mar. 2026
Newsom has been trying to raise his national profile, adopting a combative style that parodies Trump’s social media strategy with similar all-caps posts, memes and merchandise.
—Adriana Gomez Licon, Fortune, 26 Oct. 2025
In another nod to Scream, Cheri Oteri parodies Courteney Cox’s Gale Weathers as the comically unethical news anchor Gail Hailstorm.
—Skyler Trepel, Entertainment Weekly, 19 Oct. 2025
One of the videos adorably parodies the premiere episode with Katar and Sokka discovering Aang and battling Zuko and the Fire Nation.
—Jordan Moreau, Variety, 12 Oct. 2025
For the social media stars — whose content parodies their real lives through comedic skits — the new baby will also present an opportunity for new kinds of videos.
—Luke Chinman, People.com, 25 Aug. 2025
South Park’s Eric Cartman parodies Kirk in the episode by asking a college student a question, referencing Kirk’s viral debates on college campuses.
—Sydney Topf, The Washington Examiner, 8 Aug. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for parodies
Noun
-
The success of more straightforward spoofs such as Schaffer’s The Naked Gun last year is also reassuring; that film was a classic joke-a-minute throwback that largely worked (for both viewers and critics), more in line with the sort of fare that the Lonely Island made early on.—
David Sims,
The Atlantic,
27 Apr. 2026
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Retro Rewind players run a Blockbuster Video-like movie-rental store set in the early 1990s, complete with spoofs of real blockbusters of the era.—
Tony Maglio,
HollywoodReporter,
19 Mar. 2026
Noun
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One of his jokes in particular has drawn new attention, given the shooting incident at the dinner on Saturday, forcing the Secret Service to rush the Trumps and other administration officials from the dais and other seats near the stage.—
Ted Johnson,
Deadline,
27 Apr. 2026
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Kimmel delivered the jokes about the first lady at a special version of his show that included his version of a fake monologue for the WHCD.—
Dave Goldiner,
New York Daily News,
27 Apr. 2026
Verb
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But her desperation seems exposed at Cupertino, too, where Little Tim mocks her for her dim suggestion that psychotherapists be deployed to the company’s Guangzhou factory to cool down a labor crisis.—
Scott Tobias,
Vulture,
26 Apr. 2026
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While most of Hell mocks her goal, her devoted partner Vaggi, and their first test subject, adult-film star Angel Dust, stick by her side.—
Lexi Carson,
HollywoodReporter,
25 Apr. 2026
Noun
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Filmmakers have used the Civil War as a setting for many decades now, inspiring stories of epic military battles, romantic melodramas, and even satires, from sweeping Best Picture winners like Gone With the Wind (1939) to revisionist Westerns like Django Unchained (2012).—
Declan Gallagher,
Entertainment Weekly,
11 Apr. 2026
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The role demands charisma, vocal chops, and sharp comedic timing, all deployed within one of the most cynical satires in the musical theater canon.—
Ryan Brennan,
Kansas City Star,
10 Mar. 2026
Noun
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The other women in the friends’ lives — primarily their mothers — don’t fare much better and are reduced to near-caricatures.—
Frank Rizzo,
Variety,
23 Apr. 2026
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And in mainstream television, Latinos are very often caricatures.—
Matthew Carey,
Deadline,
15 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
The pieces are all made from fade- and weather-resistant poly material, which even imitates the look of wood grain for a more stylish finish.—
Paige Bennett,
Better Homes & Gardens,
22 Apr. 2026
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Aristotle said that art imitates nature (ars imitatur naturam), and for centuries, many artists sought to imitate their subjects as realistically as possible.—
Andrey Mir,
Big Think,
31 Mar. 2026
Noun
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For many attendees, the convention is known to be an epicenter and safe space to celebrate anime and cartoons.—
Emma Hall,
Sacbee.com,
27 Apr. 2026
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The section also includes editorials, columns by syndicated and local guest writers, political cartoons, and letters to the editor.—
Encyclopedia Britannica,
Encyclopedia Britannica,
23 Apr. 2026
Verb
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That is exactly what this film cleverly does — pinpoints the insidious nature of far-right movements and the creeping rhetoric that has polluted our society.—
Alex Ritman,
Variety,
30 Apr. 2026
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Corey Scher is a postdoctoral researcher at the Conflict Ecology laboratory at Oregon State University, which does satellite monitoring in conflict zones.—
Kat Lonsdorf,
NPR,
30 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Parodies.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/parodies. Accessed 3 May. 2026.
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