charade

American  

[shuh-reyd, shuh-rahd] / ʃəˈreɪd, ʃəˈrɑd /

noun

1. (used with a singular verb) charades, 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.

2. a word or phrase acted out in this game.

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

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charade British  

/ ʃəˈrɑːd /

noun

1. an episode or act in the game of charades

2. an absurd act; travesty

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Etymology

Origin of charade

1770–80; < French < Provençal charrad ( o ) entertainment, equivalent to charr ( á ) to chat, chatter (from imitative root) + -ado -ade ¹

Example Sentences

And while Clare was tempted to let her continue, just to see what absurd finish she had planned for this charade, time was of the essence.

From Literature

I was a fool to have believed I could get away with this charade.

From Literature

“What’s in it for me?” he whispered back, his arms wrapping around me in what was probably the most awkward and weird hug of my life as he kept up the bizarre charade.

From Literature

Dr Bączyk-Bell said the process had been a "facetious charade" and it was a "false equivalence" to talk about hurt caused to those who had been theologically opposed to the idea of marriage equality.

From BBC

“Why, then? What was the point of this whole charade?”

From Literature

Related Words

• deception
• farce
• travesty