sarcasm
Sarcasm (noun) means a sharp, mocking way of speaking where the speaker means the opposite of what they say, usually to criticize or belittle. Example: “Oh, brilliant plan," he said, dripping with sarcasm.”
How to use sarcasm
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishSaying something in a way that clearly means the opposite, usually to mock or criticize.
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.
Word forms
sarcasms plural
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
"Oh, brilliant plan," he said, dripping with _____.
Etymology
From Late Latin "sarcasmus," from Greek "sarkasmos" ("a sneer"), literally "to strip off the flesh" — from "sarx," meaning flesh.
Synonyms
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Frequently asked questions
What does “sarcasm” mean?
The word “sarcasm” means a sharp, mocking way of speaking where the speaker means the opposite of what they say, usually to criticize or belittle. In plain terms, saying something in a way that clearly means the opposite, usually to mock or criticize.
How do you pronounce “sarcasm”?
“Sarcasm” is pronounced SAH-ka-zuhm (/ˈsɑːɹˌkæzəm/ in IPA).
How do you use “sarcasm” in a sentence?
Here is “sarcasm” used in a sentence: “"Oh, brilliant plan," he said, dripping with sarcasm.”
What is another word for “sarcasm”?
Words with a similar meaning to “sarcasm” include derision, facetiousness, irony, ridicule, satire and taunt.
What part of speech is “sarcasm”?
“Sarcasm” is a noun.
Where does the word “sarcasm” come from?
The word “sarcasm” comes from Late Latin. From Late Latin "sarcasmus," from Greek "sarkasmos" ("a sneer"), literally "to strip off the flesh" — from "sarx," meaning flesh.
Is “sarcasm” a common word?
“Sarcasm” is an uncommon word in modern English, usually learned at around the C1 level.
What is the difference between sarcasm and irony?
Sarcasm is a sharp, mocking way of speaking where the speaker deliberately means the opposite of what they say, usually to criticize or belittle someone. Irony is a broader concept covering any gap between expectation and reality, and not all irony is intended to mock or hurt, unlike sarcasm.
Is sarcasm considered rude or impolite?
Sarcasm can come across as rude because it typically criticizes or belittles its target by saying the opposite of what is meant. Whether it lands as playful or hurtful often depends on tone, relationship, and context between speakers.
How can you tell sarcasm apart from a sincere statement in writing?
Sarcasm in writing is harder to detect than in speech because it usually relies on tone of voice, which text lacks, so writers often signal it through exaggeration, context, or punctuation like italics or quotation marks. Without such cues, sarcastic statements can be misread as sincere.
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