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satire

/ˌsæˈtaɪər/

/ˈsætaɪə/

IPA guide

Other forms: satires

Satire is a way of making fun of people by using silly or exaggerated language. Politicians are easy targets for satire, especially when they're acting self-righteous or hypocritical.

Even though the ridiculous language of satire isn't intended to be taken seriously, well-made satire can use mockery to get at more serious truths. Sometimes satire can even overtake reality: when the television sketch comedy show Saturday Night Live presented a mock debate between Al Gore and George W. Bush during the 2000 presidential campaign season, the satire was so dead-on that it influenced the way people thought of the candidates.

Definitions of satire
  1. noun
    witty language used to convey insults or scorn
    “" Satire is a sort of glass, wherein beholders do generally discover everybody's face but their own"--Jonathan Swift”
    synonyms: caustic remark, irony, sarcasm
    see moresee less
    type of:
    humor, humour, wit, witticism, wittiness
    a message whose ingenuity or verbal skill or incongruity has the power to evoke laughter
  2. noun
    a literary genre that uses humor to ridicule human failings and vices
    see moresee less
    type of:
    genre, literary genre, writing style
    a style of expressing yourself in writing
Pronunciation
US

/ˌsæˈtaɪər/

UK

/ˈsætaɪə/

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DISCLAIMER: These example sentences appear in various news sources and books to reflect the usage of the word ‘satire'. Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Vocabulary.com or its editors. Send us feedback
Commonly confused words

irony / satire / sarcasm

Irony, satire, and sarcasm all fall into the category of, "That's funny but I'm not sure what my English teacher wants me to call it."

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