tongue-in-cheek

1 of 2

adjective

: characterized by insincerity, irony, or whimsical exaggeration

tongue in cheek

2 of 2

adverb

: with insincerity, irony, or whimsical exaggeration

Examples of tongue-in-cheek in a Sentence

Adverb The whole interview was done tongue in cheek.
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.
Adjective
In retrospect, the fingerprints of Santa’s Slay are all over Violent Night — from Santa’s Nordic origins to the tongue-in-cheek splatter. Katie Rife, Vulture, 16 Nov. 2024 Trump has at times captured tongue-in-cheek admiration across the Chinese internet. Simone McCarthy, CNN, 31 Oct. 2024
Adverb
There is no winking at the camera, no tongue in cheek — none of it. Brian Grubb, Vulture, 7 Nov. 2024 Wearing a colorful beach hat emblazoned with hot dog icons, Stewart drew TV cameras and several dozen downtown merchants to her declaration — only slightly tongue in cheek — that Hard-Hittin’ New Britain deserves the title of alpha dog in the hot dog world. Don Stacom, Hartford Courant, 17 July 2024 See all Example Sentences for tongue-in-cheek 

Word History

First Known Use

Adjective

1899, in the meaning defined above

Adverb

1856, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of tongue-in-cheek was in 1856

Dictionary Entries Near tongue-in-cheek

tongue in cheek

tongue-in-cheek

tongue joint

Cite this Entry

“Tongue-in-cheek.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/tongue-in-cheek. Accessed 30 Nov. 2024.

Kids Definition

tongue-in-cheek

1 of 2 adjective
: not meant to be taken seriously

tongue in cheek

2 of 2 adverb
: in a tongue-in-cheek manner

More from Merriam-Webster on tongue-in-cheek

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!