Word forms: plural, 3rd person singular presenttense caricatures, present participle caricaturing, past tense, past participle caricatured
1. countable noun
A caricatureof someone is a drawing or description of them that exaggerates their appearance or behaviour in a humorous or critical way.
The poster showed a caricature of him with a devil's horns and tail. [+ of]
Synonyms: parody, cartoon, distortion, satire More Synonyms of caricature
2. verb
If you caricature someone, you draw or describe them in an exaggerated way in order to be humorous or critical.
Her political career has been caricatured in headlines. [beVERB-ed]
He was caricatured as a turnip. [beVERB-ed + as]
[Also V n as n]
Synonyms: parody, take off [informal], mock, distort More Synonyms of caricature
3. countable noun
If you describe something as a caricatureof an event or situation, you mean that it is a very exaggerated account of it.
[disapproval]
Are such views really a caricature of the truth? [+ of]
caricature in British English
(ˈkærɪkəˌtjʊə)
noun
1.
a pictorial, written, or acted representation of a person, which exaggerates his or her characteristic traits for comic effect
2.
a ludicrously inadequate or inaccurate imitation
he is a caricature of a statesman
verb
3. (transitive)
to represent in caricature or produce a caricature of
Derived forms
caricatural (ˈcaricaˌtural)
adjective
caricaturist (ˈcaricaˌturist)
noun
Word origin
C18: from Italian caricatura a distortion, exaggeration, from caricare to load, exaggerate; see cargo
caricature in American English
(ˈkærɪkətʃər; ˈkærɪkəˌtʃʊr)
noun
1.
a picture or imitation of a person, literary style, etc. in which certain features or mannerisms are exaggerated for satirical effect
2.
the act or art of making such caricatures
3.
a likeness or imitation that is so distorted or inferior as to seem ludicrous
verb transitiveWord forms: ˈcaricatured or ˈcaricaturing
4.
to depict in or as in a caricature
SYNONYMY NOTE: caricature refers to an imitation or representation of a person or thing, in drawing, writing,or performance, that ludicrously exaggerates its distinguishing features; , burlesque implies the handling of a serious subject lightly or flippantly, or of a triflingsubject with mock seriousness; a , parody ridicules a written work or writer by imitating the style closely, esp. so as topoint up its peculiarities or affectations, and by distorting the content nonsensicallyor changing it to something absurdly incongruous; , travesty, in contrast, implies that the subject matter is retained, but that the style andlanguage are changed so as to give a grotesquely absurd effect; , satire refers to a literary composition in which follies, vices, stupidities, and abusesin life are held up to ridicule and contempt; , lampoon refers to a piece of strongly satirical writing that uses broad humor in attackingand ridiculing the faults and weaknesses of an individual
Derived forms
caricaturist (ˈcaricaturist)
noun
Word origin
Fr < It caricatura, satirical picture, lit., an overloading < caricare, to load, exaggerate < VL carricare: see charge
Examples of 'caricature' in a sentence
caricature
We have allowed ourselves to become a caricature.
Christianity Today (2000)
Why make yourself look a grotesque caricature of yourself?
The Sun (2014)
They are all such comic caricatures that they are incapable of conveying real human cruelty or vicious snobbery.
Times, Sunday Times (2010)
There are some pretty crude comic caricatures, too.
Times, Sunday Times (2011)
He was not impressed and thought the part was a crude caricature of their real-life relationship.
Times, Sunday Times (2009)
The rest of them are really not anything like as good, either as comic characters or caricatures.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
He was renowned for being especially charming to the elegant older ladies and for drawing funny caricatures of his co-workers.
Times, Sunday Times (2010)
She also pulls no punches against those who have survived in front of the camera, suggesting that some may have become caricatures.
Times, Sunday Times (2010)
For me, it has always represented a caricature of Conservatism.
Times, Sunday Times (2012)
And it is very early in the World Cup campaign to become a caricature.
Times, Sunday Times (2014)
The restoration of the hotel in French Renaissance style brought accusations that it had become a caricature of its former self.
Times, Sunday Times (2009)
So many comics get stuck in one thing because that's what they got famous for, and they just become caricatures of themselves.
Times, Sunday Times (2012)
In reality shows this is all scripted perfectly, the plot refined for maximum impact, the characters broadened and edited to become caricatures of themselves.
Times, Sunday Times (2012)
In other languages
caricature
British English: caricature NOUN
A caricature of someone is a drawing or description of them that exaggerates their appearance or behaviour in a humorous or critical way.
The poster showed a caricature of the leader with a devil's horns and tail.
American English: caricature
Brazilian Portuguese: caricatura
Chinese: 漫画
European Spanish: caricatura
French: caricature
German: Karikatur
Italian: caricatura
Japanese: 風刺漫画
Korean: 캐리커처
European Portuguese: caricatura
Latin American Spanish: caricatura
British English: caricature VERB
If you caricature someone, you draw or describe them in an exaggerated way in order to be humorous or critical.
Her political career has been caricatured in headlines.
American English: caricature
Brazilian Portuguese: caricaturar
Chinese: 用漫画手法表现
European Spanish: caricaturizar
French: caricaturer
German: karikieren
Italian: mettere in caricatura
Japanese: 風刺して描く
Korean: ~을 풍자적으로 묘사하다
European Portuguese: caricaturar
Latin American Spanish: caricaturizar
(noun)
Definition
a description or explanation of something that is so exaggerated or over-simplified that it is difficult to take seriously
a chalk-drawn caricature of a pop-eyed judge brandishing a gavel
Synonyms
parody
a parody of a well-known soap opera
cartoon
The newspaper printed a cartoon depicting the president as a used car salesman.
distortion
satire
a sharp satire on the American political process
send-up (British, informal)
a classic send-up of sixties rock
travesty
If he couldn't prepare his case properly the trial would be a travesty.
takeoff (informal)
an inspired takeoff of the two sisters
lampoon
his scathing lampoons of consumer culture
burlesque
The book read like a black comic burlesque.
mimicry
One of his strengths was his skill at mimicry.
farce
The election was a farce, as only 22% of voters cast their ballots.
pasquinade
(verb)
Definition
to make a caricature of
Her political career has been caricatured in the newspapers.
Synonyms
parody
It was easy to parody his rather pompous manner of speaking.
take off (informal)
mock
distort
ridicule
I admire her for allowing them to ridicule her.
mimic
She could mimic anybody, reducing her friends to helpless laughter.
send up (British, informal)
lampoon
He was lampooned for his short stature and political views.
burlesque
satirize
The newspaper satirized our political leaders.
Additional synonyms
in the sense of burlesque
Definition
an artistic work, esp. literary or dramatic, satirizing a subject by caricaturing it
The book read like a black comic burlesque.
Synonyms
parody,
mockery,
satire,
caricature,
send-up (British, informal),
spoof (informal),
travesty,
takeoff (informal)
in the sense of burlesque
Synonyms
satirize,
take off (informal),
mock,
exaggerate,
ridicule,
imitate,
ape,
parody,
caricature,
send up (British, informal),
spoof (informal),
make fun of,
travesty,
lampoon,
take the piss out of (taboo, slang),
make a monkey out of
in the sense of cartoon
Definition
a humorous or satirical drawing in a newspaper or magazine
The newspaper printed a cartoon depicting the president as a used car salesman.