as in parody
a creative work that uses sharp humor to point up the foolishness of a person, institution, or human nature in general a satire about the music industry in which a handsome but untalented youth is turned into a pop star

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Synonym Chooser

How does the noun satire differ from other similar words?

Some common synonyms of satire are humor, irony, repartee, sarcasm, and wit. While all these words mean "a mode of expression intended to arouse amusement," satire applies to writing that exposes or ridicules conduct, doctrines, or institutions either by direct criticism or more often through irony, parody, or caricature.

a satire on the Congress

Where would humor be a reasonable alternative to satire?

While in some cases nearly identical to satire, 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

When is irony a more appropriate choice than satire?

Although the words irony and satire have much in common, 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

When would repartee be a good substitute for satire?

The synonyms repartee and satire are sometimes interchangeable, but repartee implies the power of answering quickly, pointedly, or wittily.

a dinner guest noted for repartee

When can sarcasm be used instead of satire?

The words sarcasm and satire can be used in similar contexts, but sarcasm applies to expression frequently in the form of irony that is intended to cut or wound.

given to heartless sarcasm

When could wit be used to replace satire?

The meanings of wit and satire largely overlap; however, wit suggests the power to evoke laughter by remarks showing verbal felicity or ingenuity and swift perception especially of the incongruous.

a playful wit

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 satire The blend of historical biopic, social satire and feminist edge aligns with a growing trend for hybrid dramas that anchor themselves in real events while pushing stylistic boundaries. Emiliano De Pablos, Variety, 1 Oct. 2025 The show spoofs recent Broadway blockbusters, including celebrity satires and pop culture zings, with hip-hop piano accompaniment. Eric E. Harrison, Arkansas Online, 1 Oct. 2025 The satire on higher education is rich, yet the larger themes about one’s purpose and ideas are gripping. Audiofile Magazine september 30, Literary Hub, 30 Sep. 2025 Free speech covers the jokes, the satire, the parodies—even the dumb, crass, or offensive ones. Lizz Winstead, Time, 27 Sep. 2025 See All Example Sentences for satire
Recent Examples of Synonyms for satire
Noun
  • Her only acting credit so far is a short parody sketch called AI Commissioner.
    Aamir Khollam, Interesting Engineering, 1 Oct. 2025
  • Aimee Lou Wood doesn’t regret criticizing Saturday Night Live over their parody of her character on The White Lotus.
    McKinley Franklin, HollywoodReporter, 30 Sep. 2025
Noun
  • Moranis, Zuniga, Pullman, Brooks, and Wyner are set to reprise their iconic roles in the sequel to the 1987 sci-fi spoof, with Gad, Palmer, Lewis Pullman, and Anthony Carrigan playing new, undisclosed characters.
    Joey Nolfi, Entertainment Weekly, 25 Sep. 2025
  • Alan Dershowitz, the famed attorney who once counted Epstein as a client, submitted a spoof cover of Vanity Fair, tweaked as Vanity Unfair, with fake headlines speculating that Epstein was Jack the Ripper and had financed the terrorist group Al Qaeda.
    Miles Klee, Rolling Stone, 9 Sep. 2025
Noun
  • And the first person viewers saw on-screen this week was Patterson’s fellow newcomer Jeremy Culhane—a fresh face to those who have never encountered social-media clips of his impish appearances on the niche comedy streamer Dropout.
    Erik Adams, The Atlantic, 5 Oct. 2025
  • Brennan is known for his signature style of colorful windbreakers and comedy, focusing on growing up in the Midwest in a family of eight children with a doctor for a father, despite having no health insurance himself.
    Jillian Sederholm, Entertainment Weekly, 5 Oct. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Satire.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/satire. Accessed 7 Oct. 2025.

More from Merriam-Webster on satire

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