satire
Americannoun
-
the use of irony, sarcasm, ridicule, or the like, to expose, denounce, or deride the folly or corruption of institutions, people, or social structures.
The success of the production stems from its balance of affectionate comedy and well-observed satire.
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a work of art, literature, or entertainment in which the folly and corruption of human beings, institutions, or social structures are exposed, denounced, or ridiculed.
The skit offended only those who didn’t recognize it as a political satire.
Did you notice that all the novels on her bookshelf were satires?
- Synonyms:
- travesty, parody, caricature, burlesque
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a genre of literature, art, or entertainment comprising such works.
The eighteenth century is considered British literature’s golden age of satire.
- Synonyms:
- travesty, parody, caricature, burlesque
noun
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a novel, play, entertainment, etc, in which topical issues, folly, or evil are held up to scorn by means of ridicule and irony
-
the genre constituted by such works
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the use of ridicule, irony, etc, to create such an effect
Related Words
See irony 1. Satire, lampoon refer to literary forms in which vices or follies are ridiculed. Satire, the general term, often emphasizes the weakness more than the weak person, and usually implies moral judgment and corrective purpose: Swift's satire of human pettiness and bestiality. Lampoon refers to a form of satire, often political or personal, characterized by the malice or virulence of its attack: lampoons of the leading political figures.
Other Word Forms
- nonsatire noun
Etymology
Origin of satire
First recorded in 1500–10; from Latin satira, variant of satura “medley,” perhaps feminine derivative of satur “sated” ( saturate )
Compare meaning
How does satire compare to similar and commonly confused words? Explore the most common comparisons:
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
This year, I squabbled more about this mean and grisly pandemic satire than any other movie.
From Los Angeles Times
The owners of the Facebook page behind these two videos said they were "obvious" satire.
From BBC
“While he was a very serious, earnest activist, he also had such an acute sense of cynical humor that is so fantastic and was capable of scathing satire,” her brother Devin added.
From Los Angeles Times
The job title and description already sound like the basis for a villainous political satire, without even trying.
From Los Angeles Times
Elsewhere, Home Alone and Schitt's Creek star Catherine O'Hara, who died in January, was named best TV comedy actress for her role in Hollywood satire The Studio.
From BBC
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
