satiric

adjective

sa·​tir·​ic sə-ˈtir-ik How to pronounce satiric (audio)
variants or satirical
1
: of, relating to, or constituting satire
satiric writers
2
: manifesting or given to satire
satirically adverb
Choose the Right Synonym for satiric

sarcastic, satiric, ironic, sardonic mean marked by bitterness and a power or will to cut or sting.

sarcastic implies an intentional inflicting of pain by deriding, taunting, or ridiculing.

a critic known for his sarcastic remarks

satiric implies that the intent of the ridiculing is censure and reprobation.

a satiric look at contemporary society

ironic implies an attempt to be amusing or provocative by saying usually the opposite of what is meant.

made the ironic observation that the government could always be trusted

sardonic implies scorn, mockery, or derision that is manifested by either verbal or facial expression.

surveyed the scene with a sardonic smile

Examples of satiric in a Sentence

a satiric story about the movie business
Recent Examples on the Web
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.
Mann at his most satiric has Settembrini contributing an essay to a multivolume project whose purpose is to end suffering. George Packer, The Atlantic, 5 Nov. 2024 Others are satiric vignettes—pointed takedowns of sham humanitarians, sham foreign journalists, sham white saviors and their sham schemes to save the continent—whose villains can read more like stock inventions than like surprising ones. Alexis Okeowo, The New Yorker, 30 Oct. 2024 The satiric sculpture — a comment on the 2021 Capitol riot — appeared on Thursday, Oct. 24, and has a permit to remain through Oct. 30, according to the National Park Service. Cnn.com Wire Service, The Mercury News, 25 Oct. 2024 Neither damning nor satiric, W. is oddly wistful, almost regretful — rare sentiments in a Stone film. Will Leitch, Vulture, 13 Oct. 2024 See all Example Sentences for satiric 

Word History

First Known Use

1509, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of satiric was in 1509

Dictionary Entries Near satiric

Cite this Entry

“Satiric.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/satiric. Accessed 28 Nov. 2024.

More from Merriam-Webster on satiric

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!