Thesaurus results for SATIRE

Q: How does the noun 'satire' differ from other similar words?

Some common synonyms of satire are humor , irony , repartee , sarcasm , and wit . While all these words mean "a mode of expression intended to arouse amusement," 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

Q: Where would 'humor' be a reasonable alternative to 'satire'?

While in some cases nearly identical to satire , 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

Q: When is 'irony' a more appropriate choice than 'satire'?

Although the words irony and satire have much in common, 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

Q: When would 'repartee' be a good substitute for 'satire'?

The synonyms repartee and satire are sometimes interchangeable, but repartee implies the power of answering quickly, pointedly, or wittily. // a dinner guest noted for repartee

Q: When can 'sarcasm' be used instead of 'satire'?

The words sarcasm and satire can be used in similar contexts, but sarcasm applies to expression frequently in the form of irony that is intended to cut or wound. // given to heartless sarcasm

Q: When could 'wit' be used to replace 'satire'?

The meanings of wit and satire largely overlap; however, wit suggests the power to evoke laughter by remarks showing verbal felicity or ingenuity and swift perception especially of the incongruous. // a playful wit

satire

noun

ˈsa-ˌtī(-ə)r

Definition of satire next

as in parody

a creative work that uses sharp humor to point up the foolishness of a person, institution, or human nature in general a satire about the music industry in which a handsome but untalented youth is turned into a pop star

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Synonym Chooser

How does the noun satire differ from other similar words?

Some common synonyms of satire are humor, irony, repartee, sarcasm, and wit. While all these words mean "a mode of expression intended to arouse amusement," 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

Where would humor be a reasonable alternative to satire?

While in some cases nearly identical to satire, 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

When is irony a more appropriate choice than satire?

Although the words irony and satire have much in common, 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

When would repartee be a good substitute for satire?

The synonyms repartee and satire are sometimes interchangeable, but repartee implies the power of answering quickly, pointedly, or wittily.

a dinner guest noted for repartee

When can sarcasm be used instead of satire?

The words sarcasm and satire can be used in similar contexts, but sarcasm applies to expression frequently in the form of irony that is intended to cut or wound.

given to heartless sarcasm

When could wit be used to replace satire?

The meanings of wit and satire largely overlap; however, wit suggests the power to evoke laughter by remarks showing verbal felicity or ingenuity and swift perception especially of the incongruous.

a playful wit

Examples 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 satire For this satire, though, the playwright teams up with the Portuguese company Mala Voadora and the director Jorge Andrade to tell a distinctly Portuguese story, pitting the rooster that is a symbol of that country against António de Oliveira Salazar, the dictator who ruled it for decades. —

Laura Collins-Hughes, New York Times, 3 Jan. 2025 Here’s a wider look at the winter TV season, which includes more medical dramas (TV wouldn’t be TV without ’em) plus a Hollywood satire starring Seth Rogen and a new twist on Sherlock Holmes featuring Watson at the forefront. —

Nina Metz, Chicago Tribune, 2 Jan. 2025 Somehow, through a nauseating cascade of increasingly grotesque distortions of the human form, the movie morphs into a meaningful satire on society's stance that older women are irrelevant—blowing a kiss into the camera at the genre's past tendency to objectify female characters. —

Ars Technica, 23 Dec. 2024 The light satire, playing on Netflix, is India’s official submission to the Academy Awards and BAFTAs. —

Thomas Page, CNN, 15 Dec. 2024 See all Example Sentences for satire

Recent Examples of Synonyms for satire

Noun

There are so many fascinating takes in this film, including their views on religion and SNL (the parodies bothered them because they were never invited on the show).

Debby Wolfinsohn, EW.com, 11 Jan. 2025
The history of legitimately funny musical acts that are not parodies is a short.

Christopher Borrelli, Chicago Tribune, 4 Jan. 2025