farce

noun

ˈfärs How to pronounce farce (audio)
Definition of farcenext
1
as in parody
a poor, insincere, or insulting imitation of something the recall of a duly elected official for a frivolous reason is not democracy in action but a farce

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in comedy
humorous entertainment the rubber-faced, loose-jointed comedian is a master of knockabout farce

Synonyms & Similar Words

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of farce Before halftime, the game risked descending into such a farce that it could have been remembered as the third-place match to end all third-place matches. — Sergio Gonzalez, New York Times, 19 July 2026 The author of the series bears the same curiosity, quick wit, and linguistic dexterity as the younger man who wrote Zone One and 2006’s messy farce, Apex Hides the Hurt. — Boris Kachka, The Atlantic, 17 July 2026 The years-long qualifying format will become a bit of a farce, as virtually every big country would now qualify easily. — Ian Miller Outkick, FOXNews.com, 13 July 2026 Under Walsh’s witty direction, all four deliver pitch-perfect comedic performances in this frothy farce, which is full of mistaken identities, exaggerated infatuations and fussy social norms. — Emily McClanathan, Chicago Tribune, 9 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for farce
Recent Examples of Synonyms for farce
  1. parody
  2. comedy
  3. joke
  4. satire
  5. caricature
  6. humor
  7. sham
Noun
  • Both shows make use of the parody defense, of course, that being the sly way for comedic artists to cash in on someone else’s intellectual property by insisting that their motives are honorably satirical.
    — Chris Jones, Chicago Tribune, 24 Aug. 2026
  • Watch Sioux Falls’ parody on the Austin and Colin YouTube channel or visit their website.
    — Angela George, Sioux Falls Argus Leader, 24 Aug. 2026
Definition of parody
Noun
  • Screwball comedies, dark horror flicks and so much more await in this weekend’s edition of your friendly neighborhood streaming guide.
    — Erik Kain, Forbes.com, 29 Aug. 2026
  • The comedian and actor spoke candidly about his health scare in a 2024 Netflix comedy special, What Had Happened Was.
    — Raechal Shewfelt, Entertainment Weekly, 29 Aug. 2026
Definition of comedy
Noun
  • And honestly, that’s kind of the best joke there is — some classic America’s Funniest Home Videos type stuff.
    — Maria Bamford, Vulture, 31 Aug. 2026
  • Sumaila has a running joke about it, borrowed from an old British comedy about a heist gone wrong.
    — Catherina Gioino, Fortune, 31 Aug. 2026
Definition of joke
Noun
  • In 2025 Turner showed his eclectic tastes, appearing in the romantic drama Eternity, the war on terrorism satire Atropia, and the low-budget art-house mystery Rose of Nevada.
    — L. Sue Baugh, Encyclopedia Britannica, 28 Aug. 2026
  • Because object narrators tend to be things that circulate across layers of society, the it-narrative offered a ready platform for social satire.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 28 Aug. 2026
Definition of satire
Noun
  • King managed to take the suffocating history of the Indian — the treaties, the massacres, the Hollywood caricatures — and turn it into something conversational, even funny.
    — Tommy Orange, Vulture, 26 Aug. 2026
  • Retailer Target pulled a children’s Halloween costume from its shelves Monday after widespread social media backlash, apologizing for selling a garment critics said evoked racist minstrel caricatures.
    — Nancy Jiang, Fortune, 26 Aug. 2026
Definition of caricature
Noun
  • Of the recent tide of Gen-Z offerings, this is the best of the bunch, with its mix of absurdist humor and heartfelt sentiment.
    — Savannah Salazar, Vulture, 28 Aug. 2026
  • By using humor to upend expectations about how women should behave.
    — Stephanie Vander Wel, The Conversation, 28 Aug. 2026
Definition of humor
Noun
  • But investigators now say his story was a sham and that behind closed doors, the assistant fire chief was allegedly living a double life.
    — Sarah Rumpf-Whitten, FOXNews.com, 24 Aug. 2026
  • The set also comes with two matching pillow shams to tie everything together.
    — Toni Sutton, PEOPLE, 20 Aug. 2026
Definition of sham

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farce
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Cite this Entry

“Farce.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/farce. Accessed 1 Sep. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on farce

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about farce

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