SYNONYMS AND RELATED EXPRESSIONS
travesty
noun
A badly distorted or absurd imitation of something worthy.
Local English device voice, when available. This is not a recorded dictionary pronunciation.
Distorted imitation
Closest synonyms
Related words and expressions
These extend or explain the idea and may require a different sentence structure.
Usage distinction
Return to topTravesty usually condemns a distortion of something that deserves better. Parody and spoof may be intentionally humorous without that moral criticism.
CHECK THE MEANING IN CONTEXT
See travesty in use
Awarding the prize without reading the entries made the contest a travesty.
An advertised demonstration became a travesty of instruction when its presenter shouted grand promises but concealed every operation behind a curtain.
Compare an alternative with the original word in each passage. Shared meanings do not make every pair interchangeable.
Synonym reference scope and sources
The groups distinguish the senses selected for this study entry. Closest synonyms and broader related expressions have separate labels. The listed sources support lexical selection; not every phrase is a direct quotation from a source.
How the synonym reference was prepared / WordNet 3.0 license