sarcasm
Contempt through insincerity
Sarcasm is saying the opposite of what you mean to mock or convey contempt: Oh, great job when someone has blundered, Thanks for the help when none was given.
The tone signals that the literal meaning should be inverted.
Sarcasm differs from irony in its hostile edge—it's meant to sting.
Contemptuous mocking treatment
- derisionContemptuous mockery
- scornHostile dismissive feeling
- sneerScornful expression
- tauntInsulting provocation
jeer · scoff · jibe · gibe · tease · mocking · sneering · taunting
Scornful disregard
- condescensionDemeaning air of superiority
- dismissivenessAttitude of casual disregard
- belittlementVerbal diminishing of worth
- disparagementCriticism meant to diminish
superciliousness · patronizing · eye-roll · snide · passive-aggressive · backhanded · underhanded · put-down
Expressing contrary meaning
- sardonicGrimly mocking
- dryFree from moisture
- wryDryly mocking in tone
- tongue-in-cheekHumorously not meant literally
deadpan · understatement · overstatement · insincerity · feigned · pretended
ridicule
Contemptuous mocking treatment
taunt · jeer · scoff · jibe · gibe · tease · mocking · sneering · taunting · cutting
disdain
Scornful disregard
- condescensionDemeaning air of superiority
- dismissivenessAttitude of casual disregard
- belittlementVerbal diminishing of worth
disparagement · superciliousness · patronizing · eye-roll · snide · passive-aggressive · backhanded · underhanded · put-down
ironic
Expressing contrary meaning
tongue-in-cheek · deadpan · understatement · overstatement · insincerity · feigned · pretended
quip
Brief, clever remark
repartee · one-liner · zinger · burn · roast · snark · snarky · clever · sharp-tongued · quick-witted
dripping
Rendered cooking fat
withering · scathing · venomous · acidic · bitter · harsh · brutal · merciless · unsparing · oozing
- comedycomedy, jokes, humor, puns, stand-up
- humorjoke, jokes, joking, comedy, comic
- social interactiongreeting, hello, goodbye, hi, bye
- language usejargon, idiom, idioms, slang, dialect
- bad attitudesnegativity, cynicism, pessimism, hostility, contempt
- clever humordry wit, wordplay, clever wordplay, clever banter, puns
sarcasmsincerity
Honest, unfeigned genuineness
earnestness · genuineness · candor · honesty · authenticity
sarcasmpraise
Expression of approval
commendation · flattery · compliment · acclaim · approbation
sarcasmliteralness
Adherence to precise meaning
plain speech · literal meaning · unsarcastically · matter-of-factness
- sarcasm detectorsTools identifying mocking intent