satirist

American  

[sat-er-ist] / ˈsæt ər ɪst /

noun

1. a writer of satires.

2. one who indulges in satire.

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satirist British  

/ ˈsætərɪst /

noun

1. a person who writes satire

2. a person given to the use of satire

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Other Word Forms

• self-satirist
  noun

Etymology

Origin of satirist

First recorded in 1580–90; satire + -ist

Explanation

A satirist is a writer or artist who uses biting humor and exaggerated language to make fun of someone. Political satirists often target candidates with cartoons that highlight their flaws. A skilled satirist can use something that seems silly or ridiculous at first glance to make a serious point. The work a satirist does, called satire, is all about using humor to show that public figures are weak or corrupt — and also to expose bigger societal issues. Today, a satirist might focus on a politician's refusal to acknowledge the reality of climate change, exposing both their dishonesty and the significance of the issue.

Example Sentences

Juvenal was a satirist, she says, not an objective reporter; he may have been wryly speculating.

From The Wall Street Journal • Jan. 27, 2026

Because these portrayals are so acute and unsparing, Jhabvala is sometimes described as a satirist.

From The Wall Street Journal • Dec. 4, 2025

Mr Poirson-Atlan told the court on Tuesday that he was a "satirist" who had just wished to put forward "a point of view different to that of the mainstream media".

From BBC • Oct. 28, 2025

Allen may have surprised listeners who know the director as a master satirist of the flawed personality, but Maher was right on brand.

From Los Angeles Times • Sep. 2, 2025

Now, he was a satirist, so he left it that way, and my father was, I guess I realized too late, a romantic, so he ended it another way.

From "The Princess Bride" by William Goldman

Related Words

• detractor
• doubter
• pessimist
• skeptic