adjective
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of, relating to, or containing satire
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given to the use of satire
Synonym Usage
See cynical.
Other Word Forms
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nonsatiricalnessnoun
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satiricalnessnoun
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subsatiricalnessnoun
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unsatiricalnessnoun
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nonsatiricadjective
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nonsatiricaladjective
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pseudosatiricaladjective
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quasi-satiricaladjective
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semisatiricadjective
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semisatiricaladjective
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subsatiricadjective
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subsatiricaladjective
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unsatiricadjective
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unsatiricaladjective
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nonsatiricallyadverb
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pseudosatiricallyadverb
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quasi-satiricallyadverb
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satiricallyadverb
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semisatiricallyadverb
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subsatiricallyadverb
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unsatiricallyadverb
Etymology
Origin of satirical
First recorded in 1520–30; from Late Latin satiric(us) (from satir(a) satire + -icus -ic ) + -al 1
Explanation
If you know the movie you are about to see is satirical, you expect it to make fun some aspect of human nature or even our society, like a satirical take on the glamorous world of fashion that portrays all the designers as celebrity-obsessed and unconcerned with true artistry. Satirical is an adjective that describes satire, a work that is intended to ridicule the shortcomings and antics of a person or group. So, something that is satirical often looks like the real thing in order to make fun of it. For example, a sketch on a comedy show in which a comedian sits behind a news anchor desk and uses a serious tone to "report" on absurd events that really happened takes a satirical approach to both the events and the concept of broadcast journalism.
Vocabulary lists containing satirical
100 SAT words Beginning with "S"
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This Week in Pop Culture: August 10–16, 2019
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ACT Reading Test: Words to Capture Tone, List 6
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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.
Immy was profoundly deaf and had a presence on social media where she shared a satirical look at her life.
From BBC ● Sep. 22, 2026
The satirical literary thriller follows Mallory, a celebrated but has-been author who’s had writer’s block for nearly a decade.
From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 15, 2026
Why it’s worth seeing: From “Birdman” filmmaker Alejandro González Iñárritu, the satirical film has shades of “Dr. Strangelove.”
From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 7, 2026
Claiming the movie’s satirical predictions have “come true” has been regular fodder for clickbait articles, egged on by its creator and stars.
From Salon ● Sep. 6, 2026
The satirical magazine Private Eye once printed one of the letters from Biro’s representatives, incidentally, under the memorable heading, “What a pathetic way to make a living”.
From "Eats, Shoots & Leaves" by Author
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.
