: characterized by insincerity, irony, or whimsical exaggeration
: with insincerity, irony, or whimsical exaggeration
Examples of tongue-in-cheek in a Sentence
Adverb
The whole interview was done tongue in cheek.
Recent Examples on the Web
Sheila Regan, Twin Cities, 21 Mar. 2026
The tongue-in-cheek beef culminated in a verbal volley at the flag football draft with Gronkowski jawing at Paul while balancing a paper plate stacked with hors d’oeuvres and Paul shouting back over the head of 5-foot-5 comedian Kevin Hart, who somehow found himself in the role of peacemaker.
—Steve Henson, Los Angeles Times, 20 Mar. 2026
Zachary Fine, New Yorker, 23 Feb. 2026
It’s being conceived as a PG-13 with tongue in cheek, per the movie’s meta title.
—Andreas Wiseman, Deadline, 13 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for tongue-in-cheek
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Adjective
Still, the blend of contemporary hits and older repertoire — paired with an unapologetic embrace of its slightly tongue-in-cheek New Age aesthetic — made for an entertaining evening.
—Sheila Regan, Twin Cities, 21 Mar. 2026
The tongue-in-cheek beef culminated in a verbal volley at the flag football draft with Gronkowski jawing at Paul while balancing a paper plate stacked with hors d’oeuvres and Paul shouting back over the head of 5-foot-5 comedian Kevin Hart, who somehow found himself in the role of peacemaker.
—Steve Henson, Los Angeles Times, 20 Mar. 2026
Adverb
The work is light and dark, solid and liquid, empty and busy, earnest and tongue in cheek.
—Zachary Fine, New Yorker, 23 Feb. 2026
It’s being conceived as a PG-13 with tongue in cheek, per the movie’s meta title.
—Andreas Wiseman, Deadline, 13 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for tongue-in-cheek
Cite this Entry
“Tongue-in-cheek.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/tongue-in-cheek. Accessed 27 Mar. 2026.
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