noun

sarcasm

SAH-ka-zuhm

noun

A sharp, mocking way of speaking where the speaker means the opposite of what they say, usually to criticize or belittle.

""Oh, brilliant plan," he said, dripping with sarcasm."

"Her sarcasm made it hard to tell if she was joking or genuinely annoyed."

How to Use Sarcasm

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishSaying something in a way that clearly means the opposite, usually to mock or criticize.

Common mistake

Sarcasm relies on tone or context to signal the opposite meaning — without that cue (e.g. in text messages) it can easily be misread as sincere.

Easily confused with

irony →

Common pairings

dripping with sarcasm laced with sarcasm a hint of sarcasm

sarcasms plural

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"Oh, brilliant plan," he said, dripping with _____.

From Late Latin "sarcasmus," from Greek "sarkasmos" ("a sneer"), literally "to strip off the flesh" — from "sarx," meaning flesh.

derision facetiousness irony ridicule satire taunt gibe

taunt ridicule irony pacify satire heckle

derision facetiousness irony ridicule satire taunt gibe pacify heckle