caricature

American  

[kar-i-kuh-cher, -choor] / ˈkær ɪ kə tʃər, -ˌtʃʊər /

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

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verb (used with object)

caricatured, caricaturing

1. to make a caricature of; represent in caricature.

caricature British  

/ 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

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verb

1. (tr) to represent in caricature or produce a caricature of

caricature Cultural  

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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Related Words

See burlesque.

Other Word Forms

• caricaturable adjective
• caricatural adjective
• caricaturist noun
• self-caricature noun
• semicaricatural adjective
• uncaricatured adjective

Etymology

Origin of caricature

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

Example Sentences

A part of him—indeed, a large part—was enjoying this charade, this moment wherein he plunged headfirst into this caricature the humans had created.

From Literature

Characters are caricatures, be it a villain that feels plucked from a cartoon western, complete with a purring raccoon for a sidekick, to a greedy wannabe politician of a bank manager.

From Los Angeles Times

Hegseth’s bravado has also been caricatured on “Saturday Night Live,” which opened two weeks in a row with a satirical portrayal of him as angry, dimwitted and hyped up on the violence of war.

From Los Angeles Times

It’s the second time Hernández has played the comedian, whose caricature of Maniscalco in a red blazer and black turtleneck is at turns spot on, exaggerated and completely hilarious.

From Los Angeles Times

Even George W. Bush — the bumbling boardwalk caricature that he is — could deliver a State of the Union address without going off-prompter.

From Salon

Related Words

• cartoon
• farce
• parody
• satire