as in parody
a work that imitates and exaggerates another work for comic effect
it is interesting to note that the first novel ever written in English was followed by a burlesque of it
Synonyms & Similar Words
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as in to parody
to copy or exaggerate (someone or something) in order to make fun of
burlesquing the teacher's nervous tic isn't very nice
Synonyms & Similar Words
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of burlesque
Luann Gibbs, The Enquirer, 6 Dec. 2024
In the end, as Reno and the reader may have sensed all along, her detachment is just another performance, a cool-girl put-on not so different from Rachel K’s burlesque.
—Lily Meyer, The Atlantic, 3 Sep. 2024
Armond White, National Review, 26 May 2023
The seeming callousness with which the dancers burlesque a fourteen-year-old’s death—the breezy way that the dance turns a killing into a sight gag—induces a shiver.
—Jody Rosen, The New Yorker, 7 Dec. 2022
See All Example Sentences for burlesque
Noun
This show drops classic Star Wars characters into the world of burlesque and transports you to the dark side for an evening of hilarious, sultry fun.
—Luann Gibbs, The Enquirer, 6 Dec. 2024
In the end, as Reno and the reader may have sensed all along, her detachment is just another performance, a cool-girl put-on not so different from Rachel K’s burlesque.
—Lily Meyer, The Atlantic, 3 Sep. 2024
Verb
That song doesn’t belong in a film that promotes the era’s social fragmentation and repeats fatuous antagonisms — burlesqued by Melissa McCarthy playing the sea world’s villainous white-witch octopus Ursula.
—Armond White, National Review, 26 May 2023
The seeming callousness with which the dancers burlesque a fourteen-year-old’s death—the breezy way that the dance turns a killing into a sight gag—induces a shiver.
—Jody Rosen, The New Yorker, 7 Dec. 2022
See All Example Sentences for burlesque
Recent Examples of Synonyms for burlesque
Noun
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The user’s viral review sparked parodies across the app with user @Nathanwituk poking fun at the original poster in a Feb. 23 video.—
Paloma Chavez,
Sacramento Bee,
24 Feb. 2025
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Additionally, disco offered a framework for instrumentalists to play around with, as well as characteristics that cannot be boiled down to logic: there can also be affective reasons, regardless of whether the intent is irony, camp, parody, or the expression of genuine sentiment.—
Angelica Frey,
JSTOR Daily,
23 Feb. 2025
Verb
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Cuba’s foreign minister mocked NED on social media.—
Peter Roskam,
National Review,
26 Feb. 2025
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Musk also mocked people who criticized the order on X, noting that workers could respond by asking an AI chatbot — such as Grok, owned by X — to create a list of accomplished tasks.—
Mathew Rodriguez,
Them,
25 Feb. 2025
Noun
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During the sketch, Kardashian, 44, sang along in the spoof of the Lawrence Welk Show with Fred Armisen as Welk and Will Ferrell as singer and actor Robert Goulet.—
Marina Watts,
People.com,
17 Feb. 2025
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Spaceballs Release date: June 24, 1987 Cast: Mel Brooks, John Candy, Rick Moranis, Bill Pullman, and more Director: Mel Brooks Rotten Tomatoes score: 52% critics, 83% audience Mel Brooks is one hell of a filmmaker and the master of spoofs.—
Grace Dean,
Space.com,
11 Feb. 2025
Verb
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Gone were the regal ceremony and traditionalism, replaced by a humility intended to imitate Christ’s poverty.—
Timothy Nerozzi,
Washington Examiner - Political News and Conservative Analysis About Congress, the President, and the Federal Government,
28 Feb. 2025
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Xi has no reason to imitate Putin’s reckless break with Europe and the United States.—
Michael Kimmage,
Foreign Affairs,
25 Feb. 2025
Noun
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For Bong, this approach is vital for his films, as that human element grounds movies that effortlessly shift among satire, pathos, action, and genre.—
Chris O'Falt,
IndieWire,
10 Mar. 2025
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The superhero movie satire from creator/executive producer Jon Brown had Oscar winner Sam Mendes and Emmy-winning frequent HBO collaborator Armando Iannucci as executive producers.—
Nellie Andreeva,
Deadline,
10 Mar. 2025
Articles Related to burlesque
Cite this Entry
“Burlesque.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/burlesque. Accessed 13 Mar. 2025.
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