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
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Example Sentences
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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
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But it’s set apart from the rest of her work by a long, satirical section sending up gothic fiction and its fans.—
Erin Somers,
The Atlantic,
6 Jan. 2026
-
But the tone is often more satiric than somber, Park highlighting Man-su’s foibles and insecurities.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
6 Jan. 2026
Adjective
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Topline The producer of a pair of aviator-style sunglasses that French President Emmanuel Macron sported at the World Economic Forum in Davos enjoyed a 28% bump in its stock price Thursday after the glasses sparked thousands of sarcastic jokes and memes online.—
Mary Whitfill Roeloffs,
Forbes.com,
22 Jan. 2026
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But in hindsight, yes, that was most likely sarcastic.—
Assistant Editor,
Los Angeles Times,
21 Jan. 2026
Adjective
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What’s lacking is acid, some tang, to cut through the excess of richness.—
Bill Addison,
Los Angeles Times,
17 Jan. 2026
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What begins as a slow, lumbering triplet rhythm gradually morphs into a fleet and elegant quasi-acid jam; drums that start off gently turn tough and clattering before the whole thing fades out in a soft sunset glow.—
Philip Sherburne,
Pitchfork,
14 Jan. 2026
Adjective
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However, foil isn't naturally nonstick and can react with acidic foods.—
Katie Rosenhouse,
Southern Living,
21 Jan. 2026
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Balsam fir is native to moist woods and prefers well-draining, acidic soil over dense, clay soil.—
Lee Wallender,
The Spruce,
20 Jan. 2026
Adjective
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Crews on Monday appear to be adding barbed wire atop cement barricades already wrapped around the building — measures no doubt added in response to a consistent group of protestors committed to gathering daily outside the complex near Fort Snelling.—
WCCO Staff,
CBS News,
13 Jan. 2026
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Half of my drawing was in black and white, showing a woman walking away from barbed wire and a prison tower.—
Chicago Tribune,
Chicago Tribune,
7 Jan. 2026
Adjective
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So begins their comic, sometimes caustic, friendship.—
Jesse Whittock,
Deadline,
18 Jan. 2026
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The higher threshold for defamation against public figures is meant to preserve debate and safeguard caustic and even bitter or abusive speech against powerful and influential people.—
Taylor Seely,
AZCentral.com,
12 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Mordant.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/mordant. Accessed 28 Jan. 2026.
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