Definition

1. Noun:
   • A word or phrase acted out silently in a guessing game: A form of entertainment where players use gestures and pantomime to represent a word or phrase for others to guess.
   • A pretense or absurdly obvious sham: An act or situation that is so clearly false or ridiculous that it cannot be taken seriously.

Examples

• Noun:
  • We played a game of charades at the party. (We participated in the guessing game at the party.)
  • His apology was a complete charade; he wasn't sorry at all. (His apology was a transparent pretense; he felt no remorse.)

Advanced Usage

• "to be a charade": to be a hollow or deceptive act.
  • The peace talks were a charade designed to buy time for military preparations. (The negotiations were a deceptive show intended to create a delay.)
• "to keep up the charade": to continue maintaining a false appearance.
  • She could no longer keep up the charade of being happy in her marriage. (She could no longer sustain the pretense of marital happiness.)

Variants and Related Words

• Charades (noun, plural): The specific parlor game involving silent acting.
  • Charades is a fun game for large groups.
• Charade-like (adjective): Resembling a false pretense.
  • The election was a charade-like process with only one candidate.

Synonyms

• Pretense: The act of pretending or feigning.
• Farce: A ridiculous or empty show; also, a type of comedy.
• Sham: Something false presented as genuine.
• Pantomime: A dramatic performance using gestures without words.

Related Phrases

• A hollow charade: A pretense that is completely empty of sincerity or substance.
  • The company's commitment to diversity was a hollow charade.
• The whole charade: The entire deceptive performance or situation.
  • I'm tired of the whole charade; let's just be honest with each other.

Idioms

• To be nothing but a charade: To be entirely false or deceptive.
  • Their reconciliation was nothing but a charade for the cameras.
• To see through the charade: To recognize the deception or falseness.
  • The public quickly saw through the charade and demanded real action.

Noun

1. a word acted out in an episode of the game of charades
2. a composition that imitates or misrepresents somebody's style, usually in a humorous way