Mordant humour is very critical and often mocks someone or something.
[formal]
A wicked, mordant sense of humour has come to the fore in Blur's world.
More Synonyms of mordant
mordant in British English
(ˈmɔːdənt)
adjective
1.
sarcastic or caustic
2.
having the properties of a mordant
3.
pungent
noun
4.
a substance used before the application of a dye, possessing the ability to fix colours in textiles, leather, etc
See also lake2 (sense 1)
5.
an acid or other corrosive fluid used to etch lines on a printing plate
verb
6. (transitive)
to treat (a fabric, yarn, etc) with a mordant
Derived forms
mordancy (ˈmordancy)
noun
mordantly (ˈmordantly)
adverb
Word origin
C15: from Old French: biting, from mordre to bite, from Latin mordēre
mordant in American English
(ˈmɔrdənt)
adjective
1.
biting, cutting, caustic, or sarcastic, as speech, wit, etc.
2.
causing corrosion
3.
acting as a mordant
noun
4.
a substance used in dyeing to fix the coloring matter, as a metallic compound that combines with the organic dye to form an insoluble colored compound, or lake, in the fiber of the fabric
5.
an acid or other corrosive substance used in etching to bite lines, areas, etc. into the surface
verb transitive
6.
to treat or impregnate with a mordant
Derived forms
mordancy (ˈmordancy)
noun
mordantly (ˈmordantly)
adverb
Word origin
ME mordent < OFr mordant, prp. of mordre, to bite < L mordere < IE *merd-, var. of base *mer-: see morbid
Examples of 'mordant' in a sentence
mordant
Yet who could resist her mordant wit?
Times, Sunday Times (2013)
He was good company, with a mordant sense of humour and a strong sense of duty.
Times, Sunday Times (2014)
His dialogue is sharp and witty, laced with mordant humour.
Times, Sunday Times (2015)
What's most distinctive about this mordant comedy of manners is the resolutely awkward cinematography.
Times, Sunday Times (2010)
It is this mordant wit that I suspect has made him so successful.
Times, Sunday Times (2015)
Shot through with mordant wit, they make you nostalgic for the days before e-mail.
Times, Sunday Times (2010)
I sent emails and hundreds of texts, trying to explain to our friends what was happening, masking my fear with mordant humour.
Times, Sunday Times (2014)
1 (adjective)
Definition
sarcastic or caustic
He describes the situation with mordant wit.
Synonyms
sarcastic
She poked fun at people's shortcomings with sarcastic remarks.
cutting
People make cutting remarks to help themselves feel superior to others.
biting
This was the most biting criticism made against her.
edged
sharp
‘Don't criticize your mother,’ was his sharp reprimand.
acid
a comedy told with compassion and acid humour
harsh
stinging
scathing
He then launched a scathing attack on previous leaders.
acrimonious
The acrimonious debate on the agenda ended indecisively.
pungent
He enjoyed the play's shrewd and pungent social analysis.
incisive
caustic
He was well known for his abrasive wit and caustic comments.
venomous
astringent
an astringent satire on Hollywood
vitriolic
acerbic
comments made in a spirit of acerbic wit
trenchant
He was shattered by the trenchant criticism.
waspish
mordacious
2 (adjective)
Synonyms
corrosive
She had a corrosive sense of humour.
acid
This apple juice has gone off and is somewhat acid.
pungent
The more herbs you use, the more pungent the sauce will be.
acidic
If the sprouts taste acidic, do not eat them.
caustic
This substance is caustic; use gloves when handling it.
vitriolic
There was a vicious and vitriolic attack on him in the tabloids.
Additional synonyms
in the sense of acerbic
Definition
harsh or bitter
comments made in a spirit of acerbic wit
Synonyms
sharp,
cutting,
biting,
severe,
acid,
bitter,
nasty,
harsh,
stern,
rude,
scathing,
acrimonious,
barbed,
unkind,
unfriendly,
sarcastic,
sardonic,
caustic,
churlish,
vitriolic,
trenchant,
acrid,
brusque,
rancorous,
mordant,
mordacious
in the sense of acid
Definition
sharp in speech or manner
a comedy told with compassion and acid humour
Synonyms
sharp,
cutting,
biting,
severe,
bitter,
harsh,
stinging,
scathing,
acrimonious,
barbed,
pungent,
hurtful,
sarcastic,
sardonic,
caustic,
vitriolic,
acerbic,
trenchant,
mordant,
mordacious
in the sense of acid
Definition
sharp or sour in taste
This apple juice has gone off and is somewhat acid.
Synonyms
sour,
sharp,
tart,
pungent,
biting,
acidic,
acerbic,
acrid,
acetic,
vinegary,
acidulous,
acidulated,
vinegarish,
acerb
Nearby words of
mordant
morass
moratorium
morbid
mordant
more
more or less
moreover
Synonyms of 'mordant'
mordant
Explore 'mordant' in the dictionary
Additional synonyms
in the sense of acidic
Definition
containing acid
If the sprouts taste acidic, do not eat them.
Synonyms
acid,
biting,
sharp,
sour,
tart,
pungent,
acerbic,
acrid,
acetic,
vinegary,
acidulous,
acidulated,
vinegarish,
acerb
in the sense of acrimonious
The acrimonious debate on the agenda ended indecisively.
Synonyms
bitter,
cutting,
biting,
sharp,
severe,
hostile,
crabbed,
sarcastic,
embittered,
caustic,
petulant,
spiteful,
churlish,
astringent,
vitriolic,
acerbic,
trenchant,
irascible,
testy,
censorious,
rancorous,
mordant,
peevish,
splenetic,
mordacious,
pungent,
tart
in the sense of astringent
Definition
severe or harsh
an astringent satire on Hollywood
Synonyms
severe,
strict,
exacting,
harsh,
grim,
stern,
hard,
rigid,
rigorous,
stringent,
austere,
caustic,
acerbic
in the sense of biting
Definition
sarcastic
This was the most biting criticism made against her.
Synonyms
sarcastic,
cutting,
sharp,
severe,
stinging,
withering,
scathing,
acrimonious,
incisive,
virulent,
caustic,
vitriolic,
trenchant,
mordant,
mordacious
in the sense of caustic
Definition
bitter and sarcastic
He was well known for his abrasive wit and caustic comments.
Synonyms
sarcastic,
biting,
keen,
cutting,
severe,
stinging,
scathing,
acrimonious,
pungent,
vitriolic,
trenchant,
mordant,
mordacious
in the sense of caustic
Definition
capable of burning or corroding by chemical action
This substance is caustic; use gloves when handling it.
Synonyms
burning,
corrosive,
corroding,
astringent,
vitriolic,
acrid,
mordant
in the sense of cutting
Definition
(of a remark) likely to hurt the feelings
People make cutting remarks to help themselves feel superior to others.
Synonyms
hurtful,
wounding,
severe,
acid,
bitter,
malicious,
scathing,
acrimonious,
barbed,
sarcastic,
sardonic,
caustic,
vitriolic,
trenchant,
pointed,
mordacious
in the sense of pungent
Definition
(of speech or writing) biting
He enjoyed the play's shrewd and pungent social analysis.
Synonyms
cutting,
pointed,
biting,
acute,
telling,
sharp,
keen,
stinging,
piercing,
penetrating,
poignant,
stringent,
scathing,
acrimonious,
barbed,
incisive,
sarcastic,
caustic,
vitriolic,
trenchant,
mordant,
mordacious
in the sense of pungent
Definition
having a strong sharp bitter smell or taste
The more herbs you use, the more pungent the sauce will be.
Synonyms
strong,
hot,
spicy,
seasoned,
sharp,
acid,
bitter,
stinging,
sour,
tart,
aromatic,
tangy,
acrid,
peppery,
piquant,
industrial-strength (humorous),
highly flavoured,
acerb
in the sense of scathing
Definition
harshly critical
He then launched a scathing attack on previous leaders.
Synonyms
critical,
cutting,
biting,
harsh,
savage,
brutal,
searing,
withering,
belittling,
sarcastic,
caustic,
scornful,
vitriolic,
trenchant,
mordant,
mordacious
Additional synonyms
in the sense of sharp
Definition
bitter or harsh
‘Don't criticize your mother,’ was his sharp reprimand.
Synonyms
cutting,
biting,
severe,
bitter,
harsh,
scathing,
acrimonious,
barbed,
hurtful,
sarcastic,
sardonic,
caustic,
vitriolic,
trenchant,
mordant,
mordacious,
acerb
in the sense of trenchant
Definition
keen or incisive
He was shattered by the trenchant criticism.
Synonyms
scathing,
pointed,
cutting,
biting,
sharp,
keen,
acute,
severe,
acid,
penetrating,
tart,
pungent,
incisive,
hurtful,
sarcastic,
caustic,
astringent,
vitriolic,
acerbic,
piquant,
mordant,
acidulous,
mordacious
in the sense of vitriolic
Definition
(of language) severely bitter or harsh
There was a vicious and vitriolic attack on him in the tabloids.