sarcastic

[ sahr-kas-tik ]

adjective

1. of, relating to, or characterized by sarcasm:

   a sarcastic reply.

2. using or given to the use of sarcasm:

   His business failures made him sarcastic about other people's ventures.

   Synonyms: sardonic, ironic, derisive, bitter, mordant, cutting, biting

sarcastic

/ sɑːˈkæstɪk /

adjective

1. characterized by sarcasm
2. given to the use of sarcasm

Derived Forms

• sarˈcastically, adverb

Other Words From

• sar·casti·cal·ly adverb
• sar·castic·ness sar·casti·cal·ness noun
• quasi-sar·castic adjective
• quasi-sar·casti·cal·ly adverb
• super·sar·castic adjective
• super·sar·casti·cal·ly adverb
• unsar·castic adjective
• unsar·casti·cal adjective
• unsar·casti·cal·ly adverb

Word History and Origins

Origin of sarcastic¹

First recorded in 1685–95; sarc(asm) + -astic, on the model of enthusiasm ( def ): enthusiastic ( def ); -ic ( def )

Synonym Study

See cynical.

Example Sentences

Stewart is a polarizing figure, and one whose cranky, sarcastic grandstanding worked much better with his original, Gen X audience than it does today.

From Time

Fox News host Tucker Carlson regularly uses the word in sarcastic scare quotes.

From Washington Post

Gen Z, for example, famously channeled their frustration with the generation they hold responsible for issues like climate change and wealth inequality into the simple, sarcastic meme “OK boomer.”

From Quartz

Sometimes I say something sarcastic and I want to see your guys’ reaction and I can’t and some people might take it the wrong way.

From Washington Post

It’s nothing they can’t fix with an episode or two apart and a heartfelt apology, but it’s the first time we ever see Rory sulking like an angry teenager and Lorelai going sarcastic and cutting.

From Vox

He reminds me a lot of my own brothers who are funny, smart, and sarcastic dudes.

From The Daily Beast

Hoffman plays Jon Savage, the sarcastic and pessimistic brother (and confidant) to his sister, Wendy.

From The Daily Beast

The threads attached are short, the comments sarcastic, mostly wondering whether he actually died.

From The Daily Beast

The acting is top-notch, and Parsons has won a pair of Emmys for his turn as the witty, sarcastic Sheldon.

From The Daily Beast

And Downey is at his sarcastic, vulnerable, and megalomaniacal best in Iron Man 3.

From The Daily Beast

Soon after they parted, with a sarcastic laugh from the Spaniard, and Ma'amselle mingled with the crowd.

From Project Gutenberg

If he had only been himself I should have had nothing more to desire, but he was in one of his bitter, sarcastic moods.

From Project Gutenberg

This, added to Woolf's sarcastic manner of speech, roused Trevithick's anger.

From Project Gutenberg

He obtained some success with the ladies by his sarcastic pleasantries in the fashion of the eighteenth century.

From Project Gutenberg

Lechmere grimly expressed his thanks, though the sarcastic force of the words and the wink were not lost on him.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• acerbic
• acid
• arrogant
• biting
• bitter
• brusque
• caustic
• derisive
• disparaging
• disrespectful
• mordant
• sardonic
• satirical
• saucy
• trenchant