satirize
Americanverb (used with object)
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satirizes,
present (3rd person singular)
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satirized,
past participle, past
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satirizing
present participle
verb
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
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satirizationnoun
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satirizernoun
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nonsatirizingadjective
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satirizableadjective
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unsatirizableadjective
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unsatirizedadjective
Inflected Forms
Participles
Conjugated Forms
Present
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satirizesimple
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satirizessimple
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have satirizedperfect
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has satirizedperfect
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am satirizingprogressive
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are satirizingprogressive
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is satirizingprogressive
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have been satirizingperfect progressive
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has been satirizingperfect progressive
Past
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satirizedsimple
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had satirizedperfect
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was satirizingprogressive
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were satirizingprogressive
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had been satirizingperfect progressive
Future
Etymology
Origin of satirize
Explanation
When you cleverly make fun of something, you satirize it. Political cartoons, for example, satirize current events and politicians using clever drawings and captions. When a writer criticizes something using humor, she satirizes it. Playwrights and filmmakers often satirize ridiculous social customs by reflecting them in exaggerated ways, for example. Ideally, when an artist satirizes society, she hopes to encourage positive changes by making people feel ashamed or embarrassed. The root of satirize is the noun satire, which in classical Latin meant a kind of poem that "ridiculed vice or folly."
Vocabulary lists containing satirize
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.
See Examples For:
“Idiocracy,” on the other hand, was as cheap as the mid-aughts culture it was setting out to satirize.
From Salon ● Sep. 6, 2026
General stores sell figurines that satirize social media-obsessed tourists.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 12, 2025
Just two years after “Cruise” debuted, duo Maddie & Tae had heard enough about arm candy and daisy dukes to satirize the subgenre’s views on women with 2015’s “Girl in a Country Song.”
From Salon ● May 16, 2025
“Family Guy” began as the brainchild of Seth MacFarlane, now 50, who imbued the show with its pop-cultural bona fides, iconic musical numbers and a desire to satirize every social convention that Americans hold sacred.
From Los Angeles Times ● Apr. 16, 2024
And there is always the non-productive brotherhood of critics to disparage and to satirize, to view with horror and contempt.
From "Travels with Charley in Search of America" by John Steinbeck
He stepped out of a convertible alongside Julie and performed "Richer than Elon" -- a song that satirizes the SpaceX executive, who is the wealthiest man in the world.
From Barron's ● Oct. 23, 2026
HBO’s “I Love LA” satirizes the Los Angeles entertainment industry, with influencers, nepo-babies and the rich and famous.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 20, 2026
His film satirizes smartphone and tablet addiction by using AI-generated animals.
From Los Angeles Times ● Mar. 21, 2025
Eminem’s latest satirizes the culture wars tying the nation up in knots — as well as his participation in them.
From Salon ● Aug. 30, 2024
Each one satirizes follies which are not to his taste, or sins to which he is not tempted.
From Folkways A Study of the Sociological Importance of Usages, Manners, Customs, Mores, and Morals by William Graham Sumner
Our critic said that in it influencer culture “is satirized with savage wit.”
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jun. 7, 2026
The move was likely in the works before the latest kerfuffle over Kimmel, who is under fire for a comedic bit that satirized the annual Washington gala that Trump attended for the first time.
From Los Angeles Times ● Apr. 28, 2026
After comedian Michelle Wolf satirized the president, Sanders’ demeanor changed.
From Salon ● Apr. 24, 2026
The policing techniques satirized in the film may be futuristic, but its structure is fusty.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jan. 22, 2026
Dave Barry’s “Ask Mr. Language Person” satirized their typical advisory: writing tip for professionals: To make your writing more appealing to the reader, avoid “writing negatively.”
From "The Sense of Style" by Steven Pinker
“Hands!” spoofs FX’s “The Bear,” while satirizing TV conventions, like the will-they-won’t-they romantic plotlines, multicamera operation and filming in front of a live studio audience.
From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 7, 2026
With shows like FX’s “Adults” and HBO’s “I Love LA” satirizing real-life hardships such as layoffs, fitting in at work and unchecked career ambition, here’s how TV has taken on modern workplace struggles.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 20, 2026
I didn’t want to live in a world of satirizing this guy forever.
From Slate ● Jul. 12, 2026
This time, we’re seeing the actor’s answer to “The Studio,” only instead of satirizing the industry’s artistically cheapening franchise obsession, it warns of the full extinction of originality by way of ChatGPT.
From Salon ● Mar. 26, 2026
Eventually Threpe was called up onto the stage where he sang a scathing little ditty of his own design, satirizing one of Tarbean’s councilmen.
From "The Name of the Wind" by Patrick Rothfuss
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Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
