snarky

[snahr-kee]

adjective

snarkier, snarkiest 

1. testy or irritable; short.

2. having a rudely critical tone or manner.

   snarky humor.

snarky

/ ˈsnɒːkɪ /

adjective

1. informal,  unpleasant and scornful

Other Word Forms

• snarkiness noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of snarky¹

snark ² + -y ¹

Word History and Origins

Origin of snarky¹

C20: from _sarcastic + _nasty

Example Sentences

Michael wanted to say something snarky, but he didn’t.

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Like “Sullivan’s Travels,” “Jay Kelly” gently pokes fun at its central figure without being snarky; movie stars may face vastly different circumstances than most of us do, but that hardly means they have no problems.

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Leavitt’s snarky quip offered as an answer sounded like it came from a high school prom committee.

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The Los Angeles Times ran a particularly snarky article around the time of the 1943 concert that dismissed the singer as “an opium of emotionalism.”

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He is whimsical, funny, snarky, slightly obnoxious and at his core, I think, very sincere.

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Related Words

• cynical 
• snide