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

verb

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

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.

Other Word Forms

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

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

Word History and Origins

Origin of caricature¹

C18: from Italian caricatura a distortion, exaggeration, from caricare to load, exaggerate; see _cargo

Synonym Study

See burlesque.

Example Sentences

Ms. Ypi, aghast at the “caricature” of her grandmother that was “emerging here,” resolved to get to the truth about Leman.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

His face is a conversation between his pleased smile and astonished eyes, expressions pushed just far enough into caricature to register as comic, but never so much as to violate the integrity of the character.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

These negotiations of race and class were later reflected in the signage for Whitten’s Workroom 27: a sharply dressed man in the style of a blackface caricature beneath the words “Spoony Bill’s.”

Read more on Los Angeles Times

His case for it, which includes a caricature of Calvinism, is unconvincing.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

The media routinely caricatures evangelical support for Israel as a function of their eschatology.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

Related Words

• cartoon 
• farce 
• parody 
• satire