satiric

adjective

sə-ˈtir-ik How to pronounce satiric (audio)
variants or satirical
Definition of satiricnext
as in sarcastic
marked by the use of wit that is intended to cause hurt feelings a satiric story about the movie business

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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How is the word satiric different from other adjectives like it?

Some common synonyms of satiric are ironic, sarcastic, and sardonic. While all these words mean "marked by bitterness and a power or will to cut or sting," satiric implies that the intent of the ridiculing is censure and reprobation.

a satiric look at contemporary society

When can ironic be used instead of satiric?

Although the words ironic and satiric have much in common, 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

When would sarcastic be a good substitute for satiric?

In some situations, the words sarcastic and satiric are roughly equivalent. However, sarcastic implies an intentional inflicting of pain by deriding, taunting, or ridiculing.

a critic known for his sarcastic remarks

Where would sardonic be a reasonable alternative to satiric?

The meanings of sardonic and satiric largely overlap; however, sardonic implies scorn, mockery, or derision that is manifested by either verbal or facial expression.

surveyed the scene with a sardonic smile

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 satiric Gad originated the role of Elder Cunningham alongside Andrew Rannells' Elder Price in a satiric look at two young missionaries' misguided attempts to spread the gospel in a small Ugandan village. —Ryan Coleman, EW.com, 16 Jan. 2025 The show isn't satiric so much as amused by the absurd lengths to which the Kaylas of our society will go in pursuit of self-definition. —Tom Gliatto, People.com, 10 Dec. 2024 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 See All Example Sentences for satiric
Recent Examples of Synonyms for satiric
  1. sarcastic
  2. biting
  3. barbed
  4. sharp
Adjective
  • Emmy-nominated for the role the first time out, Ramsey is genius in it, the perfect amounts of precocious, sarcastic, and wide-eyedly vulnerable.
    — Zing Tsjeng, Vogue, 11 Apr. 2025
  • What about someone who posts a meme that is satirical or a comment that is meant to be sarcastic?
    — Peter Suciu, Forbes.com, 10 Apr. 2025
Definition of sarcastic
Adjective
  • Many of his biting posts have gone viral, drawing thousands of shares and millions of views.
    — Ron Estes, MSNBC Newsweek, 29 Mar. 2025
  • The criticism from Barney Ronay at The Guardian was even more biting.
    — Zak Garner-Purkis, Forbes, 23 Mar. 2025
Definition of biting
Adjective
  • The season does pepper throughout a sense that Santos has a real heart under all that barbed wire.
    — Nicholas Quah, Vulture, 10 Apr. 2025
  • The base that this is based on now has a bunch of barbed wire and fencing.
    — Fred Topel, Deadline, 5 Apr. 2025
Definition of barbed
Adjective
  • As part of that effort, Democrats are hoping to exploit the sharp GOP divisions over the value of Medicaid and how deeply Republicans should cut its funding.
    — Mike Lillis, The Hill, 14 Apr. 2025
  • Such a sharp rise in yield, which corresponds to a sharp drop in price, is unusual, and signaled a broad shift away from U.S. markets, with the U.S. dollar falling in tandem.
    — Joe Rennison, New York Times, 14 Apr. 2025
Definition of sharp

Browse Nearby Words

satires
satiric
satirist
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Cite this Entry

“Satiric.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/satiric. Accessed 22 Apr. 2025.

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Nglish: Translation of satiric for Spanish Speakers

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