as in flippant
Related Words
Relevance
Dissimilar Words
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 tongue-in-cheek
During the winter storm, the department’s official X account went viral for a series of self-aware, tongue-in-cheek posts that poked fun at drivers, the weather and even the officers themselves.
—
Ashley Vega, PEOPLE, 27 Jan. 2026
Araki flashes back a tongue-in-cheek nine-and-a-half weeks to show us, alternating key moments from Elliot’s life with deadpan police interrogation scenes, where Elliot is questioned by officers played, with Araki’s undeniable casting brilliance, by Margaret Cho and Johnny Knoxville.
—Damon Wise, Deadline, 23 Jan. 2026
The sentiment is tongue-in-cheek, but the feeling behind it is not.
—Martine Thompson, Los Angeles Times, 18 Jan. 2026
In the past, these ranged from a tongue-in-cheek dinner endorsed by Sunnei to a fancy breakfast at Le Progrès café in Paris’ Marais with Forte_Forte.
—Sandra Salibian, Footwear News, 16 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for tongue-in-cheek
Ashley Vega, PEOPLE, 27 Jan. 2026
Araki flashes back a tongue-in-cheek nine-and-a-half weeks to show us, alternating key moments from Elliot’s life with deadpan police interrogation scenes, where Elliot is questioned by officers played, with Araki’s undeniable casting brilliance, by Margaret Cho and Johnny Knoxville.
—Damon Wise, Deadline, 23 Jan. 2026
The sentiment is tongue-in-cheek, but the feeling behind it is not.
—Martine Thompson, Los Angeles Times, 18 Jan. 2026
In the past, these ranged from a tongue-in-cheek dinner endorsed by Sunnei to a fancy breakfast at Le Progrès café in Paris’ Marais with Forte_Forte.
—Sandra Salibian, Footwear News, 16 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for tongue-in-cheek
Recent Examples of Synonyms for tongue-in-cheek
Adjective
-
Supporters argue flippant names show Trump is serious Immigration operation names have also received backlash for taking inspiration from pop culture.—
Matt Brown,
Fortune,
4 Feb. 2026
-
Such comments strike a somewhat flippant note in view of the disparity between MacSwiney’s and Proust’s circumstances, which included frequent outings to the Ritz in the latter’s case.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
2 Feb. 2026
Adjective
-
His posture is authoritative without being imposing, his voice warm without being facetious.—
Roxana Hadadi,
Vulture,
5 Dec. 2025
-
Powell was, of course, being facetious, as the low-quality videos featured the actor as a teen running and jumping in the street and lip-syncing to the song while wearing a yacht captain’s hat.—
Rachel DeSantis,
PEOPLE,
17 Nov. 2025
Adjective
-
Luge is the most dangerous of the three sliding sports (bobsled and skeleton are the others) — ironic because athletes in that event actually have the most control.—
Lindsay Schnell,
New York Times,
9 Feb. 2026
-
Then in an ironic twist, Jones and Towns bumped heads as the All-Star center tried to drive on Jones.—
Bennett Durando,
Denver Post,
5 Feb. 2026
Adjective
-
As referee Craig Pawson revealed his fate after being sent to the monitor by the VAR, Szoboszlai offered a wry smile, then headed for the tunnel.—
James Pearce,
New York Times,
9 Feb. 2026
-
Tennis fans know Carillo for her wry comments, often delivered with a world-class deadpan, leaving only alert viewers to pick up the joke.—
Steven Zeitchik,
HollywoodReporter,
6 Feb. 2026
Adjective
-
In his experiences and chronicles of the great ideological battles of the twentieth century, Curzio Malaparte was a shape-shifter—pitiless, clinical, cynical, unsentimental, indifferent to morality and idealism.—
Leah Downey,
The New York Review of Books,
7 Feb. 2026
-
That didn’t happen, not least because of the cynical fecklessness of regional powers.—
Juan Pablo Spinetto,
Twin Cities,
1 Feb. 2026
Adjective
-
Hot and dry forests become a tinderbox Record droughts and scorching temperatures created conditions conducive to wildfires in Chile and Argentina, the study found, while single-species plantations of highly flammable trees like pines helped the fires spread more easily in both areas.—
Isabel Debre,
Los Angeles Times,
11 Feb. 2026
-
Rinse with water and dry with a clean microfiber cloth or soft towel.—
Louise Parks,
Martha Stewart,
11 Feb. 2026
Adjective
-
The stories might be funny, painful or poignant, but at the end of the night they’re all meant to be unforgettable.—
Randy McMullen,
Mercury News,
5 Feb. 2026
-
His response makes Camilla’s avoidance all the more poignant.—
Lizzie Lanuza,
StyleCaster,
5 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Tongue-in-cheek.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/tongue-in-cheek. Accessed 14 Feb. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
