as in satiric
marked by the use of wit that is intended to cause hurt feelings
a mordant review of the movie that compared it to having one's teeth pulled for two hours
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of mordant
Phoebe Greenwood’s novel, Vulture, conjures up this world with mordant humor and breathtaking immediacy.
—
Book Marks
august 28, Literary Hub, 28 Aug. 2025
While still maintaining his academic career, Lehrer was popular enough to tour occasionally as a solo performer before overseas audiences, punctuating his mordant material with a lupine grin.
—Chris Morris, Variety, 27 July 2025
A bit of mordant familial humor held that the Great Depression had hit the year before, and the family had been demoted, but the new categorization was more likely the product of the family’s changing structure.
—Jelani Cobb, New Yorker, 14 June 2025
The brilliantly mordant Irish comedian Dylan Moran summed it up memorably.
—Greg Orme, Forbes.com, 2 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for mordant
Book Marks
august 28, Literary Hub, 28 Aug. 2025
While still maintaining his academic career, Lehrer was popular enough to tour occasionally as a solo performer before overseas audiences, punctuating his mordant material with a lupine grin.
—Chris Morris, Variety, 27 July 2025
A bit of mordant familial humor held that the Great Depression had hit the year before, and the family had been demoted, but the new categorization was more likely the product of the family’s changing structure.
—Jelani Cobb, New Yorker, 14 June 2025
The brilliantly mordant Irish comedian Dylan Moran summed it up memorably.
—Greg Orme, Forbes.com, 2 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for mordant
Recent Examples of Synonyms for mordant
Adjective
-
To be fair, some of the comments are also satirical.—
Bill Goodykoontz,
AZCentral.com,
14 Oct. 2025
-
An effort last year to have the satirical site The Onion purchase Infowars through an auction process was initially rejected by a judge.—
Ted Johnson,
Deadline,
14 Oct. 2025
Adjective
-
As a model named Carl, stuck in a relationship corrupted by microcelebrity and Instagram view counts, Dickinson ticks with exasperation and sarcastic logic, his jaw clenched, his eyes wide and staring.—
Carrie Battan,
Vulture,
6 Oct. 2025
-
Following the mother-daughter duo of Lorelai Gilmore, played by Lauren Graham, and Rory, played by Alexis Bledel, Gilmore Girls was perfectly made for millennials, packed with wistful romances, frustrating dramatic turns and just enough sarcastic jokes.—
Stephanie Sengwe,
PEOPLE,
5 Oct. 2025
Adjective
-
Avoid an acid overload of tart and tangy (pickles and citrus), a bold flavor competition, sweet and funky flavors colliding (fruity jams and aged cheeses), and a clash of spicy meats and cheeses with delicate fruits and accompaniments.—
Catharine Kaufman,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
13 Oct. 2025
-
Normally, acid from citrus is used to curdle the milk, before the solids are removed to leave a rich drink.—
Amarachi Orie,
CNN Money,
3 Oct. 2025
Adjective
-
The Reprise was actually my favorite with cherry and chocolate notes that were perfectly balanced and not too acidic.—
Brittany Loggins,
Bon Appetit Magazine,
14 Oct. 2025
-
Fill the pot with loose, slightly acidic soil that drains quickly.—
Karen Brewer Grossman,
Southern Living,
13 Oct. 2025
Adjective
-
The actress is clearly relishing the opportunity to deliver Aaron Sorkin’s barbed dialogue (though perhaps not as much as Philip Seymour Hoffman, who steals the show as an explosive CIA functionary).—
Bilge Ebiri,
Vulture,
10 Oct. 2025
-
Watch this just for all the quick lands and barbed moments here alone.—
Andy Hoglund,
Entertainment Weekly,
5 Oct. 2025
Adjective
-
Oasis is known the world over as the supergroup containing the infamously caustic pair of brothers, Noel Gallagher and Liam Gallagher.—
Ryan Coleman,
Entertainment Weekly,
6 Oct. 2025
-
The result is a safer material that no longer carries the caustic nature of untreated red mud.—
Aamir Khollam,
Interesting Engineering,
16 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Mordant.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/mordant. Accessed 20 Oct. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share