sarcasm

noun

ˈsär-ˌka-zəm How to pronounce sarcasm (audio)
Definition of sarcasmnext
as in insult
an act or expression showing scorn and usually intended to hurt another's feelings I know you're not happy, but there's no need to resort to petty sarcasms to make your point

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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 sarcasm Avoid using silence, sarcasm or strategic distance when direct language would resolve the issue faster. — Valerie Mesa, PEOPLE, 26 June 2026 Bluth family at the show's center, while Howard narrated the action with plenty of sarcasm. — Raechal Shewfelt, Entertainment Weekly, 29 June 2026 Meanwhile, sitcoms like Friends marked a movement toward irony in comedy with its trademark tongue-in-cheek banter and sarcasm, Thompson explains. — Liz Regalia, Parents, 23 June 2026 His willingness to deliver unvarnished opinions, often sprinkled with sarcasm or humor, has been refreshing for Gator Nation after four seasons of Billy Napier’s measured — at times droning — delivery. — Edgar Thompson, The Orlando Sentinel, 27 May 2026 See All Example Sentences for sarcasm
Recent Examples of Synonyms for sarcasm
  1. insult
  2. outrage
Noun
  • According to Spell and members of his congregation, the man had a history of verbally harassing them with threats, insults and racial slurs.
    — Drew Pittock, USA Today, 25 June 2026
  • Michael Lind, the writer and New America co-founder, argues in Commonplace, the magazine of Oren Cass’s American Compass, that a decent wage and a safety net should be enough, and that handing workers a stake in capital insults the dignity of their labor.
    — Teresa Ghilarducci, Forbes.com, 23 June 2026
Definition of insult
Noun
  • Hard fouls are routinely minimized, and meaningful discipline often arrives only after public outrage forces the league's hand.
    — Alejandro Avila OutKick, FOXNews.com, 1 July 2026
  • But his qualms weren’t about the level of destruction in Gaza or the high civilian toll, both of which drew global outrage.
    — Sam Metz, Los Angeles Times, 30 June 2026
Definition of outrage

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sarcasm
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Cite this Entry

“Sarcasm.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/sarcasm. Accessed 7 Jul. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on sarcasm

Nglish: Translation of sarcasm for Spanish Speakers

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about sarcasm

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