satire

noun

sat·ire | \ ˈsa-ˌtī(-ə)r

Definition of satire

1 : a literary work holding up human vices and follies to ridicule or scorn

2 : trenchant wit, irony, or sarcasm used to expose and discredit vice or folly

Synonyms Choose the Right Synonym The Culinary Roots of Satire Example Sentences Learn More about satire

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Choose the Right Synonym for satire

wit, humor, irony, sarcasm, satire, repartee mean a mode of expression intended to arouse amusement. wit suggests the power to evoke laughter by remarks showing verbal felicity or ingenuity and swift perception especially of the incongruous. a playful wit humor implies an ability to perceive the ludicrous, the comical, and the absurd in human life and to express these usually without bitterness. a sense of humor irony applies to a manner of expression in which the intended meaning is the opposite of what is seemingly expressed. the irony of the title sarcasm applies to expression frequently in the form of irony that is intended to cut or wound. given to heartless sarcasm satire applies to writing that exposes or ridicules conduct, doctrines, or institutions either by direct criticism or more often through irony, parody, or caricature. a satire on the Congress repartee implies the power of answering quickly, pointedly, or wittily. a dinner guest noted for repartee

The Culinary Roots of Satire

Satire came into English at the beginning of the 16th century, and the meaning of the word has not strayed very far from its original sense. The initial uses were primarily applied to poems, and the term now has a broader applicability. Satire has a semantic and etymological overlap with both farce and lampoon. Farce ("a light dramatic composition marked by broadly satirical comedy and improbable plot") came into English as a synonym for forcemeat, meaning "finely chopped and highly seasoned meat or fish that is either served alone or used as a stuffing." Lampoon ("a harsh satire usually directed against an individual") is thought to come from the French lampons!, meaning "let us guzzle!" And satire is believed to trace back to the Latin satur, meaning "well-fed."

Examples of satire in a Sentence

By contrast, Martial's friend, Juvenal, learned to transmute Martial's epigrammatic wit into savage satire. Juvenal's fierce, if occasionally obscene, tirades against immorality fit easily into the propaganda of the new era. — G. W. Bowersock, New York Review of Books, 26 Feb. 2009 Unlike late-night talk shows that traffic in Hollywood interviews and stupid pet tricks, "The Daily Show" is a fearless social satire. Not many comedy shows would dare do five minutes on the intricacies of medicare or a relentlessly cheeky piece on President George W. Bush's Thanksgiving trip to Iraq … — Marc Peyser, Newsweek, 29 Dec. 2003 - 5 Jan. 2004 Saturday Night Live alum Bill Murray stars in this film about Army basic training, and it features Second City TV veterans John Candy and Harold Ramis. Director Ivan Reitman co-produced Animal House. Do not, however, expect a devastating satire on the military; this film is so innocuous that the Defense Department let Reitman use Fort Knox, Ky. to make it. — People, 27 July 1981 His movies are known for their use of satire. The movie is a political satire.

Recent Examples on the Web

But the script, by Guy Busick and Ryan Murphy, errs too far on the side of sardonic to be taken seriously as true social satire. — Katie Walsh, San Diego Union-Tribune, "Review: ‘Ready or Not’ sacrifices horror for irony and laughs to skewer the 1 percent," 22 Aug. 2019 But the script, by Guy Busick and Ryan Murphy, errs a bit too far on the side of sardonic to be taken seriously as true social satire. — Katie Walsh, Twin Cities, "1-percenter slasher flick ‘Ready or Not’ too sardonic to be taken seriously as satire," 20 Aug. 2019 The Russian left interpreted it as a right-wing satire, while the right accused Turgenev of pandering to the left. — Christopher Tayler, Harper's magazine, "New Books," 19 Aug. 2019 However, the script errs a bit too far on the side of sardonic to be taken seriously as true social satire. — Katie Walsh, Detroit Free Press, "‘Ready or Not’ is too snarky to be scary," 19 Aug. 2019 While some, like Trump, assumed that the movie is anti-conservative, others felt differently, pointing to its marketing as a satire. — Rachel E. Greenspan, Time, "Everything to Know About the Canceled Movie The Hunt," 13 Aug. 2019 The Hollywood Reporter said the studio was worried that the film, which was originally titled Red State vs. Blue State, would appear exploitative, even though it was intended as a satire. — David Sims, The Atlantic, "How The Hunt Became a Political Rorschach Test," 13 Aug. 2019 While the general expectation is that most people are embracing the event as satire, the sheer number of people who have joined the event have led to legitimate concern about even a few thousand people flooding the area around the military base. — NBC News, "As Area 51 raid becomes a joke online, the U.S. Air Force issues a real warning," 18 July 2019 The book’s satire is trained on the awfulness of affluent tech society, which turns out to be Bernadette’s Achilles’ heel. — Josephine Livingstone, The New Republic, "What Have You Done, Richard Linklater?," 19 Aug. 2019

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'satire.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

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More Definitions for satire

satire

noun

English Language Learners Definition of satire

: a way of using humor to show that someone or something is foolish, weak, bad, etc. : humor that shows the weaknesses or bad qualities of a person, government, society, etc.

: a book, movie, etc., that uses satire

See the full definition for satire in the English Language Learners Dictionary

satire

noun

sat·ire | \ ˈsa-ˌtīr

Kids Definition of satire

1 : humor that is used to make fun of and often show the weaknesses of someone or something

2 : something (as a book or movie) that uses satire

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satire

Definition of satire

Synonyms for satire

Choose the Right Synonym for satire

The Culinary Roots of Satire

Examples of satire in a Sentence

First Known Use of satire

History and Etymology for satire

English Language Learners Definition of satire

Kids Definition of satire

satire

Definition of satire

Synonyms for satire

Choose the Right Synonym for satire

The Culinary Roots of Satire

Examples of satire in a Sentence

First Known Use of satire

History and Etymology for satire

English Language Learners Definition of satire

Kids Definition of satire

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