Definition of SNARKY

Snarky vs. Sarcastic

Some have questioned whether snarky is a real word. There can be no doubt that it is; the adjective has been recorded in English since 1906. Its original meaning, “crotchety, snappish,” has largely been overtaken, however, by the far more frequently-encountered sense “sarcastic, impertinent or irreverent.” The precise difference between utterances described as sarcastic and snarky will vary somewhat based on the individual using each word. Some feel that sarcastic usually implies irony, or stating the opposite of what is really intended (for example, “thank you so much for your promptness” spoken to someone who arrives late), whereas snarky implies simple impertinence or irreverence (as when Downton Abbey's Dowager Countess asks Isobel Crawley, “does it ever get cold on the moral high ground?”)

Examples of snarky in a Sentence

The writer at No. 10, Fred Mustard Stewart, died last February at 74. His obituary in The Guardian contained this snarky observation: "Year in, year out, the 600-page mark did not daunt him." — Dwight Garner, New York Times Book Review, 24 Feb. 2008 Edwards says his notorious $400 haircut and his 28,000-square-foot house are the obsessions of the media, not "normal voters." (He does have a snarkier press corps than RFK. Not only did reporters not criticize the size of Kennedy's Virginia mansion, they wrote fawning prose about the senator in the hopes of scoring an invitation.) — Jonathan Darman, Newsweek, 30 July 2007 If your coworker confronts you, admit you were wrong. But don't overexplain your snarky comment—she may get angrier. — Margaret Magnarelli, Glamour, April 2002 Even when he pays someone a compliment, it comes out snarky; recently Valentine said he thought Atlanta's Bobby Cox should be named National League Manager of the Year "because he's had to manage this year." It doesn't matter that until Monday, Valentine managed 1,703 games without making the playoffs. — S. L. Price, Sports Illustrated, 11 Oct. 1999 working all day with such snarky jerks is exhausting with champagne as a lubricant, she unleashed an unending series of snarky comments for the duration of the wedding reception

Recent Examples on the Web

The track, which leads Michaels' Inner Monologue Part 1 EP, is a stark, honest, and sometimes snarky portrait of living with depression and anxiety. — Erica Gonzales, Harper's BAZAAR, "Selena Gomez and Julia Michaels Get Real About Anxiety in a Candid New Song," 24 Jan. 2019 Getty ImagesMichael Kovac Kaley Cuoco and Jim Parsons have a sweet dynamic on their hit show The Big Bang Theory, now in its last season, as snarky friends Penny and Sheldon. — Katherine J. Igoe, Marie Claire, "Kaley Cuoco's 33rd Birthday Celebrations Were Ruined by Jim Parsons," 30 Nov. 2018 The whole fanzine culture, Gerard Cosloy [the editor of Conflict], was snarky and sarcastic, like Mad Magazine gone hipster, with music. — Rob Tannenbaum, New York Times, "Stephen Malkmus Doesn’t Think He Was a Jerk," 14 May 2018 Janetti has perfected the art of the side-by-side, positioning the young Prince as a snarky commentator on all things royal. — Chloe Foussianes, Town & Country, "Instagram's Favorite Prince George Meme-maker, Gary Janetti, Is Releasing a Book," 5 Nov. 2018 The television reboot turns that dynamic around, with a new trio of Heathers: a snarky heavyset girl, a biracial girl, and a genderqueer student. — Graeme Mcmillan, The Verge, "The TV reboot of Heathers was doomed from the start," 31 Oct. 2018 The snarky family-out-of-water schtick of the once rich and snobby but now destitute Rose clan has evolved, as Johnny, Moira, David and Alexis become full-fledged townies of the backwater burg—albeit dressed in designer clothing. — Cady Drell, Marie Claire, "What to Watch on Netflix in October, According to Our Editors," 1 Oct. 2018 Some snarky citizen is trying to make a point about picking up your dog poo along the Roanoke River Greenway. — Chris Stirewalt, Fox News, "The GOP's Pollyanna problem," 20 Aug. 2018 Standouts in the large, fine supporting cast included Olivia Cosio (Susie) and Kelly Newberry (Mrs. Doc); the opening funeral scene, a chaotic hubbub of many overlapping lines and snarky commentary, set the tone perfectly. — Heidi Waleson, WSJ, "The Glimmerglass Festival and ‘A Quiet Place’ Reviews," 13 Aug. 2018

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