caricature
Distorted comic portrait
A caricature is a portrait that exaggerates distinctive features for comic or satirical effect—a politician's prominent nose made enormous, a celebrity's quirk amplified.
The term extends beyond visual art: any depiction that distorts through oversimplification becomes a caricature.
The villain was a caricature of corporate greed.
To caricature someone is to portray them this way.
Marks forming a picture
- illustrationPicture explaining something
- penInk-filled writing tool
- inkWriting fluid
- charcoalBurned wood residue
cartoon · line work · cross-hatching · brushwork · watercolor · gouache · marker · digital
Harsh public mockery
- parodySatirical imitation
- mockeryScornful ridicule or travesty
- ironyMeaning opposite to words
- sarcasmIrony used to mock
spoof · burlesque · ridicule · send-up · takeoff · roast · wit · farce
Visual similarity or representation
- sketchHasty informal drawing
- profileSide-facing outline
- depictionRepresentation in art
- renderingInterpretive depiction or performance
visage · countenance · portrait · drawing · face · features · resemblance · subject
Represent as greater
- amplifyIncrease in strength
- magnifyIncrease perceived size
- inflateFill with gas
- embellishAdd decorative elements
hyperbolize · overemphasize · dramatize · overdraw · overplay · stretch · distort · warp
Work meant to amuse
- jestHumorous remark or act
- gagMouth restraint or jest
- witClever, inventive humor
- sillinessFrivolous, absurd behavior
buffoonery · amusement · laughter · mirth · playful · whimsical · absurd · comic
Category sharing traits
- stock characterConventional recurring persona
- oversimplificationStripping complexity unfairly
- reductionMaking something smaller
- tropeRecurring narrative device
cliché · generalization · pigeonhole · archetype · cardboard cutout · one-dimensional · flat character · shorthand
drawing
Marks forming a picture
- illustrationPicture explaining something
- penInk-filled writing tool
- inkWriting fluid
charcoal · cartoon · line work · cross-hatching · brushwork · watercolor · gouache · marker · digital · stylization
lampoon
Harsh public mockery
sarcasm · spoof · burlesque · ridicule · send-up · takeoff · roast · wit · farce · travesty
likeness
Visual similarity or representation
rendering · visage · countenance · portrait · drawing · face · features · resemblance · subject · sitter
overstate
Represent as greater
embellish · hyperbolize · overemphasize · dramatize · overdraw · overplay · stretch · distort · warp · contort
comedy
Work meant to amuse
silliness · buffoonery · amusement · laughter · mirth · playful · whimsical · absurd · comic · funny
type
Category sharing traits
- stock characterConventional recurring persona
- oversimplificationStripping complexity unfairly
- reductionMaking something smaller
trope · cliché · generalization · pigeonhole · archetype · cardboard cutout · one-dimensional · flat character · shorthand · broad strokes
- Parodiesspoof, Spaceballs, Naked Gun, Scary Movie, take-off
- satirelampoon, parody, parody account, political satire, spoof
- comedy bitsbit, skit, sketch, gag, shtick
- art formspainting, drawing, sculpture, photography, music
- humorjoke, jokes, joking, comedy, comic
- visual artdrawing, fine art, painting, portrait, sketch
caricaturerealistic depiction
Truthful visual representation
representation · resemblance · reproduction · verisimilitude · realism
caricaturetribute
Offering of respect
homage · flattery · glorification · hagiography · encomium
caricatureunderstatement
Intentional diminishment for effect
meiosis · litotes · minimization · downplaying · subtlety
- caricature artistsSketchers who exaggerate features
- political caricatureSatirical art lampooning governance
- caricature artHumorous exaggerated depictions
caricatured, caricaturist, caricatures, caricaturing, caricaturists, caricaturize, caricaturizing, caricaturized, caricaturizes