caricature

3 synonyms for caricature, grouped by meaning and by how common each one is.

Noun — A drawing or description that exaggerates someone's features for comic or critical effect.

Synonyms

Less common

Still standard English, but they carry more weight.

ape imitation

Rare, literary or technical

Precise, but they will stand out — check the sense before using one.

impersonation

Synonyms by Meaning

1. noun

A drawing or description that exaggerates someone's features for comic or critical effect.

“The street artist drew a caricature of the tourist with an enormous nose.”

ape imitation impersonation

2. verb

To portray someone or something in an exaggerated, often mocking way.

“The satirist loved to caricature politicians in his weekly column.”

ape

How to use caricature

The word patterns that sound natural to a native speaker.

draw a caricature a political caricature reduced to a caricature

Etymology

From French caricature, from Italian caricatura, ultimately from Latin carrus ("cart, load") — via the idea of "loading" or exaggerating someone's features. Not related to the word "character," despite the resemblance.

Full origin of caricature →

Frequently asked questions

What does “caricature” mean?

The word “caricature” means a drawing or description that exaggerates someone's features for comic or critical effect. In plain terms, an exaggerated portrait or portrayal that pokes fun at someone's most obvious traits.

How do you pronounce “caricature”?

“Caricature” is pronounced KA-rih-kuh-choor (/ˈkɛɹɪkət͡ʃʊɚ/ in IPA).

How do you use “caricature” in a sentence?

Here is “caricature” used in a sentence: “The street artist drew a caricature of the tourist with an enormous nose.”

What part of speech is “caricature”?

Depending on how it is used, “caricature” can be a noun and a verb.

Where does the word “caricature” come from?

The word “caricature” comes from Latin. From French caricature, from Italian caricatura, ultimately from Latin carrus ("cart, load") — via the idea of "loading" or exaggerating someone's features. Not related to the word "character," despite the resemblance.

Is “caricature” a common word?

“Caricature” is an uncommon word in modern English.

How many meanings does “caricature” have?

“Caricature” has 3 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a drawing or description that exaggerates someone's features for comic or critical effect.

People also searched

ape imitation impersonation

Nearby words

← Back to the full definition of caricature