sarcastic

adjective

sar·cas·tic sär-ˈka-stik How to pronounce sarcastic (audio)

: having the character of sarcasm

sarcastic criticism

: given to the use of sarcasm : caustic

a sarcastic critic

sarcastically

sär-ˈka-sti-k(ə-)lē How to pronounce sarcastic (audio)

adverb

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Snarky vs. Sarcastic

Some have questioned whether snarky is a real word. There can be no doubt that it is; the adjective has been recorded in English since 1906. Its original meaning, “crotchety, snappish,” has largely been overtaken, however, by the far more frequently-encountered sense “sarcastic, impertinent or irreverent.”The precise difference between utterances described as sarcastic and snarky will vary somewhat based on the individual using each word. Some feel that sarcastic usually implies irony, or stating the opposite of what is really intended (for example, “thank you so much for your promptness” spoken to someone who arrives late), whereas snarky implies simple impertinence or irreverence (as when Downton Abbey's Dowager Countess asks Isobel Crawley, “does it ever get cold on the moral high ground?”)

Example Sentences

DeWitt is everything Shea is not. And Shea quickly felt DeWitt's contempt. "Lincoln is loud," Jim says. "He makes sarcastic comments because he has to call attention to himself all the time. Some people are insecure because they haven't established themselves yet."

Anne Marie Cruz, ESPN, 18 Feb. 2002 Close on the heels of "Millionaire" came "The Weakest Link," which added a new wrinkle (subsequently picked up by "American Idol"): Its British host, Anne Robinson, was presented not as a genteel, erudite tutor but rather as a rude, sarcastic jerk.

Andrew Sullivan, New Republic, 4 Nov. 2002 Frank evokes the eccentric Hamilton family and their feisty Gullah housekeeper with originality and conviction; Susan herself—smart, sarcastic, funny and endearingly flawed—makes a lively and memorable narrator.

Publishers Weekly, 24 Jan. 2000 her sarcastic comments that my singing reminded her of the time her dog was sick

Recent Examples on the Web This irritation may explain why, in speeches for audiences who can be presumed to agree with him, Alito becomes partisan and sarcastic.

Margaret Talbot, The New Yorker, 28 Aug. 2022 Signa is plucky and sarcastic, even in her dealings and flirtation with Death.

San Diego Union-Tribune, 28 Aug. 2022 Neither saccharine nor sarcastic, the consistent tone of the show may be its biggest asset.

Amy Amatangelo, Los Angeles Times, 8 Aug. 2022 With her characteristic screech that raised her scenes to an operatic pitch, Harris became known for her sarcastic remarks and exasperated tirades at the expense of her son, George, and husband, Frank.

Maureen Lee Lenker, The Hollywood Reporter, 2 Apr. 2022 The crowd cheered when a fan ran across the outfield following Mike Moustakas' RBI single and then offered a sarcastic cheer when Pirates pitching finally recorded an out after the barrage of singles.

The Enquirer, 21 Aug. 2022 There as here, words are placed in obvious counterpoint to images that plainly disprove them (and underscored with an irritatingly sarcastic music choice), all to serve the point that our narrator is self-evidently dishonest.

Daniel D'addario, Variety, 19 Aug. 2022 Then: Leave it to Perry's Chandler Bing to deliver a sarcastic remark or punch line, which would never fail in making us cackle uncontrollably.

Grace Gavilanes, Peoplemag, 19 Aug. 2022 Margot Mertz Takes it Down was one of last year’s most drolly hilarious books, with a serious message beneath the sarcastic barbs.

Toni Fitzgerald, Forbes, 16 Aug. 2022 See More

sarcastic

adjective

as in satiric

marked by the use of wit that is intended to cause hurt feelings her sarcastic comments that my singing reminded her of the time her dog was sick

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

satiric
satirical
barbed
acidic
acid
sardonic
snarky
acerbic
caustic
biting
cynical
scathing
ironic
corrosive
mordant
pungent
acrid
tart
smart-aleck
acidulous
smart-alecky
sharp
smart-mouthed
cutting
harsh
ironical
blunt
scalding
wry
flippant
acerb
concise
sour
facetious
incisive
poignant
trenchant
spiky
gruff
dry
vitriolic
brisk
cross
sharp-tongued
curt
brusque
severe
tongue-in-cheek
bitter
abrupt
pithy
resentful
snippy
terse
acrimonious
sourish
keen
succinct
spikey
insincere
backhanded
tartish
stringent
crisp
brusk
rough
snippety

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

amusing
playful
waggish
mild
merry
gentle
droll
sportive
bland
polite
diplomatic
good-natured
suave
urbane
good-humored
smooth
gracious
affable
hospitable
cordial
genial
sociable

Synonym Chooser

Some common synonyms of sarcastic are ironic, sardonic, and satiric. While all these words 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

In some situations, the words ironic and sarcastic are roughly equivalent. However, 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

The meanings of sardonic and sarcastic 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

While in some cases nearly identical to sarcastic, satiric implies that the intent of the ridiculing is censure and reprobation.

a satiric look at contemporary society

单词	sarcastic
释义	sarcastic adjective sar·cas·tic sär-ˈka-stik 1 : having the character of sarcasm sarcastic criticism 2 : given to the use of sarcasm : caustic a sarcastic critic sarcastically sär-ˈka-sti-k(ə-)lē adverb Did you know? Snarky vs. Sarcastic Some have questioned whether snarky is a real word. There can be no doubt that it is; the adjective has been recorded in English since 1906. Its original meaning, “crotchety, snappish,” has largely been overtaken, however, by the far more frequently-encountered sense “sarcastic, impertinent or irreverent.”The precise difference between utterances described as sarcastic and snarky will vary somewhat based on the individual using each word. Some feel that sarcastic usually implies irony, or stating the opposite of what is really intended (for example, “thank you so much for your promptness” spoken to someone who arrives late), whereas snarky implies simple impertinence or irreverence (as when Downton Abbey's Dowager Countess asks Isobel Crawley, “does it ever get cold on the moral high ground?”) Synonyms acerb acerbic acid acidic acidulous acrid barbed biting caustic corrosive cutting mordant pungent sardonic satiric satirical scalding scathing sharp smart-aleck smart-alecky smart-mouthed snarky tart See all Synonyms & Antonyms Example Sentences DeWitt is everything Shea is not. And Shea quickly felt DeWitt's contempt. "Lincoln is loud," Jim says. "He makes sarcastic comments because he has to call attention to himself all the time. Some people are insecure because they haven't established themselves yet." Anne Marie Cruz, ESPN, 18 Feb. 2002 Close on the heels of "Millionaire" came "The Weakest Link," which added a new wrinkle (subsequently picked up by "American Idol"): Its British host, Anne Robinson, was presented not as a genteel, erudite tutor but rather as a rude, sarcastic jerk. Andrew Sullivan, New Republic, 4 Nov. 2002 Frank evokes the eccentric Hamilton family and their feisty Gullah housekeeper with originality and conviction; Susan herself—smart, sarcastic, funny and endearingly flawed—makes a lively and memorable narrator. Publishers Weekly, 24 Jan. 2000 her sarcastic comments that my singing reminded her of the time her dog was sick Recent Examples on the Web This irritation may explain why, in speeches for audiences who can be presumed to agree with him, Alito becomes partisan and sarcastic. Margaret Talbot, The New Yorker, 28 Aug. 2022 Signa is plucky and sarcastic, even in her dealings and flirtation with Death. San Diego Union-Tribune, 28 Aug. 2022 Neither saccharine nor sarcastic, the consistent tone of the show may be its biggest asset. Amy Amatangelo, Los Angeles Times, 8 Aug. 2022 With her characteristic screech that raised her scenes to an operatic pitch, Harris became known for her sarcastic remarks and exasperated tirades at the expense of her son, George, and husband, Frank. Maureen Lee Lenker, The Hollywood Reporter, 2 Apr. 2022 The crowd cheered when a fan ran across the outfield following Mike Moustakas' RBI single and then offered a sarcastic cheer when Pirates pitching finally recorded an out after the barrage of singles. The Enquirer, 21 Aug. 2022 There as here, words are placed in obvious counterpoint to images that plainly disprove them (and underscored with an irritatingly sarcastic music choice), all to serve the point that our narrator is self-evidently dishonest. Daniel D'addario, Variety, 19 Aug. 2022 Then: Leave it to Perry's Chandler Bing to deliver a sarcastic remark or punch line, which would never fail in making us cackle uncontrollably. Grace Gavilanes, Peoplemag, 19 Aug. 2022 Margot Mertz Takes it Down was one of last year’s most drolly hilarious books, with a serious message beneath the sarcastic barbs. Toni Fitzgerald, Forbes, 16 Aug. 2022 See More Word History Etymology sarc(asm) + -astic, by analogy with other Greek-derived words where the suffixes -asm and -astic imply one another (as enthusiasm, enthusiastic) First Known Use 1695, in the meaning defined at sense 1 Kids Definition sarcastic adjective sar·cas·tic sär-ˈka-stik 1 : showing sarcasm a sarcastic reply 2 : being in the habit of using sarcasm a sarcastic person sarcastic adjective as in satiric marked by the use of wit that is intended to cause hurt feelings her sarcastic comments that my singing reminded her of the time her dog was sick Synonyms & Similar Words Relevance satiric satirical barbed acidic acid sardonic snarky acerbic caustic biting cynical scathing ironic corrosive mordant pungent acrid tart smart-aleck acidulous smart-alecky sharp smart-mouthed cutting harsh ironical blunt scalding wry flippant acerb concise sour facetious incisive poignant trenchant spiky gruff dry vitriolic brisk cross sharp-tongued curt brusque severe tongue-in-cheek bitter abrupt pithy resentful snippy terse acrimonious sourish keen succinct spikey insincere backhanded tartish stringent crisp brusk rough snippety Antonyms & Near Antonyms amusing playful waggish mild merry gentle droll sportive bland polite diplomatic good-natured suave urbane good-humored smooth gracious affable hospitable cordial genial sociable See More Synonym Chooser Some common synonyms of sarcastic are ironic, sardonic, and satiric. While all these words 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 In some situations, the words ironic and sarcastic are roughly equivalent. However, 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 The meanings of sardonic and sarcastic 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 While in some cases nearly identical to sarcastic, satiric implies that the intent of the ridiculing is censure and reprobation. a satiric look at contemporary society
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sarcastic

adjective

Did you know?

Synonyms

Example Sentences

Word History

Kids Definition

adjective

adjective

Synonym Chooser