sarcasm

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noun sar·casm \ ˈsär-ˌka-zəm \

Definition of sarcasm

1 :a sharp and often satirical or ironic utterance designed to cut or give pain

2 a :a mode of satirical wit depending for its effect on bitter, caustic, and often ironic language that is usually directed against an individual

b :the use or language of sarcasm

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sarcasm was our Word of the Day on 03/27/2017. Hear the podcast!

Examples of sarcasm in a Sentence

"That was my favorite show yet this tour," Banks says. "I love audiences that are ambivalent." For a second, I think he's laying on the sarcasm, until he continues. "I really like the chance to win people over." —David Peisner, Spin, August 2007
"The best part of being single," Bryce Donovan jokes, "is being able to choose any woman I want to shoot me down." Such self-deprecating sarcasm is the trademark of this newsman's four-year-old weekly column "It Beats Working" in the Charleston Post and Courier. —People, 26 June 2006
"But see," I say … "in my line of work I'm supposed to dress in a way that makes clients feel sorry for me, or better yet superior to me. I think I accomplish that pretty well." Paul looks over at me again with a distasteful look that might be ready to slide into sarcasm, only he doesn't know if I'm making fun of him. He says nothing. —Richard Ford, Independence Day, (1995) 1996
a voice full of sarcasm
I know you're not happy, but there's no need to resort to petty sarcasms to make your point.

Recent Examples of sarcasm from the Web

Just as his reputation as a walking controversy is intertwined with his deadpan sarcasm, Kiffin’s past is married to his present.

— matthew defranks, Sun-Sentinel.com, "At FAU, Lane Kiffin finds a 'refreshing' change in lifestyle as spotlight follows him to Boca Raton," 29 Aug. 2017
Cornett, however, said he was flummoxed by the unhelpful response and laced his goodbye with a heavy dose of sarcasm.

— allan brettman, OregonLive.com, "Mount Hood climber died after delays slowed rescue," 12 Aug. 2017
Friday, standing between an uncomfortable looking Rex Tillerson and Nikki Haley, Trump said his comment was sarcasm.

— jeff darcy, cleveland.com, "Trump thanks Putin: Darcy cartoon," 12 Aug. 2017
A quick scroll through her Twitter will yield a bunch of humorous messages dripping with dry sarcasm.

— de elizabeth, Allure, "Woman With One Arm's Amazing Tinder Bio Goes Viral," 11 Aug. 2017
A quick scroll through her Twitter will yield a bunch of humorous messages dripping with dry sarcasm.

— de elizabeth, Allure, "Woman With One Arm's Amazing Tinder Bio Goes Viral," 11 Aug. 2017
A quick scroll through her Twitter will yield a bunch of humorous messages dripping with dry sarcasm.

— de elizabeth, Teen Vogue, "Woman’s Tinder Bio Goes Viral," 10 Aug. 2017
Known for his quick wit, sarcasm, offbeat humor and silly stunts, Letterman interviewed top stars and political figures on more than 6,000 episodes over 33 years in late-night television.

— reuters, Fortune, "David Letterman Is Returning to TV on Netflix," 8 Aug. 2017
Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2' One of the things that makes Guardians such a great superhero franchise is its sense of humor—which is full of self-deprecation and sarcasm.

— mehera bonner, Marie Claire, "These Are the 10 Funniest Movies of 2017," 8 Aug. 2017

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'sarcasm.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

What is the Origin of sarcasm?

If you've ever been hurt by a remark full of cutting sarcasm, you have some insight into the origins of the word. "Sarcasm" can be traced back to the Greek verb sarkazein, which initially meant "to tear flesh like a dog." "Sarkazein" eventually developed extended senses of "to bite one's lips in rage," "to gnash one's teeth," and eventually "to sneer." "Sarkazein" led to the Greek noun sarkasmos, ("a sneering or hurtful remark"), iterations of which passed through French and Late Latin before arriving in English as "sarcasm" in the mid-16th century. Even today sarcasm is often described as sharp, cutting, or wounding, reminiscent of the original meaning of the Greek verb.

Origin and Etymology of sarcasm

French or Late Latin; French sarcasme, from Late Latin sarcasmos, from Greek sarkasmos, from sarkazein to tear flesh, bite the lips in rage, sneer, from sark-, sarx flesh; probably akin to Avestan thwarəs- to cut

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 1619

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sarcasm Synonyms

Synonym Discussion of sarcasm

wit, humor, irony, sarcasm, satire, repartee mean a mode of expression intended to arouse amusement. wit suggests the power to evoke laughter by remarks showing verbal felicity or ingenuity and swift perception especially of the incongruous.

- a playful wit

humor implies an ability to perceive the ludicrous, the comical, and the absurd in human life and to express these usually without bitterness.

- a sense of humor

irony applies to a manner of expression in which the intended meaning is the opposite of what is seemingly expressed.

- the irony of the title

sarcasm applies to expression frequently in the form of irony that is intended to cut or wound.

- given to heartless sarcasm

satire applies to writing that exposes or ridicules conduct, doctrines, or institutions either by direct criticism or more often through irony, parody, or caricature.