charade

[ shuh-reyd; especially British shuh-rahd ]

/ ʃəˈreɪd; especially British ʃəˈrɑd /

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR charade ON THESAURUS.COM

noun

charades, (used with a singular verb) a game in which the players are typically divided into two teams, members of which take turns at acting out in pantomime a word, phrase, title, etc., which the members of their own team must guess.

a word or phrase acted out in this game.

a blatant pretense or deception, especially something so full of pretense as to be a travesty.

Nearby words

characterization, characterize, characterless, charactery, charactonym, charade, charades, charanga, charango, charas, charbroiled

Origin of charade

1770–80; < French < Provençal charrad(o) entertainment, equivalent to charr(á) to chat, chatter (from imitative root) + -ado -ade¹

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for charade

If the Democrats maintain this charade, 2016 will not be the cakewalk they dream it to be.
Earth to DNC: Dyspeptic Dad Still Votes, Too|Lloyd Green|November 11, 2014|DAILY BEAST
What I mean is that both sides found time to put on a charade.
Obama and Latinos Are at the Breaking Point|Ruben Navarrette Jr.|July 21, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Finally, she reached a point where she could no longer continue the charade.
Fred Phelps’s Son Is the Subject of a Documentary About His Abusive Childhood and Escaping Westboro Baptist|Caitlin Dickson|June 9, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Democrats, do the American thing and have nothing to do with this charade.
Beirut Barracks vs. Benghazi|Michael Tomasky|May 9, 2014|DAILY BEAST

If this is all a hoax, Detweiler is a master of the charade.
The Mystery of FluteDrop: D.J. Detweiler Pairs Miley Cyrus With Woodwinds|Gideon Resnick|March 5, 2014|DAILY BEAST
It was, he guessed, because of the too tender passage in the charade.
Tutors' Lane|Wilmarth Lewis
"Come, come, let's get on with the charade," urged the Man from Outside.
The Money Master, Complete|Gilbert Parker
At the end of the first charade, when the girls were standing at a loss in the dimly-lit hall, she made a timid suggestion.
Pointed Roofs|Dorothy Richardson
They then both rose and declared the charade completed, leaving it to the audience to divine the answer.
The Art of Amusing|Frank Bellew
The next night the charade was ass-ass-in, and Blinks went on for the first two syllables.
The Three Brides, Love in a Cottage, and Other Tales|Francis A. Durivage

British Dictionary definitions for charade

charade

/ (ʃəˈrɑːd) /

noun

an episode or act in the game of charades

mainly British an absurd act; travesty

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

charade

noun

RELATED WORDS

Nearby words

Origin of charade

Examples from the Web for charade

British Dictionary definitions for charade

charade

noun