satire
Ridicule as art
Satire is a form of humor that accentuates the weaknesses and shortcomings of a person, institution, or enterprise.
The phrases political satire and social satire are both frequent because politicians, and people generally, do and say silly things.
A particular work such as a play, poem, or story that uses satire can also be called a satire: The movie is a dark satire about political failure in the wake of a natural disaster.
Harsh public mockery
- polemicAggressive argumentative discourse
- exposéInvestigative journalism piece
- denunciationFormal public accusation
- indictmentFormal charge from jury
dissent · subversion · protest · reform · censorship · invective · diatribe · vitriol
Harsh public mockery
- burlesqueExaggerated mockery or risqué variety
- travestyAbsurd, degrading imitation
- pasticheImitative artistic tribute
- allegorySymbolic tale with deeper meaning
fable · mock-epic · mock-heroic · picaresque · Swift · Voltaire · Orwell · Twain
Clever, inventive humor
- banterPlayful, teasing exchange
- quipBrief, clever remark
- wisecrackFlippant clever remark
- witticismClever, amusing remark
repartee · jest · joke · gag · pun · wordplay · drollery · cleverness
Hasty informal drawing
- skitBrief comic performance
- spoofComic exaggerated imitation
- impersonationPretending to be another
- send-upMocking imitation of something
roast · revue · cabaret · stand-up · mockumentary · sitcom · comedy · farce
Meaning opposite to words
- cynicismDistrust of human sincerity
- wrynessSardonic, understated humor
- drynessAbsence of moisture
- facetiousnessHumorous levity, often inappropriate
sardonicism · deadpan · understatement · hyperbole · absurdism · tongue-in-cheek · snark · mordancy
lampoon
Harsh public mockery
- polemicAggressive argumentative discourse
- exposéInvestigative journalism piece
- denunciationFormal public accusation
indictment · dissent · subversion · protest · reform · censorship · invective · diatribe · vitriol · rebuke
lampoon
Harsh public mockery
- burlesqueExaggerated mockery or risqué variety
- travestyAbsurd, degrading imitation
- pasticheImitative artistic tribute
allegory · fable · mock-epic · mock-heroic · picaresque · Swift · Voltaire · Orwell · Twain · Aristophanes
wit
Clever, inventive humor
witticism · repartee · jest · joke · gag · pun · wordplay · drollery · cleverness · levity
sketch
Hasty informal drawing
- skitBrief comic performance
- spoofComic exaggerated imitation
- impersonationPretending to be another
send-up · roast · revue · cabaret · stand-up · mockumentary · sitcom · comedy · farce · ventriloquism
irony
Meaning opposite to words
facetiousness · sardonicism · deadpan · understatement · hyperbole · absurdism · tongue-in-cheek · snark · mordancy · acerbity
- comedycomedy, jokes, humor, puns, stand-up
- comedy elementspunchline, wit, gag, irony, sight gag
- comedy stylesjokes, puns, irony, wit, slapstick
- comedy tropespratfall, sight gag, running gag, visual gag, punchline
- comedy writingjoke, jokes, comedy, irony, pun
- humor writinghumor, puns, wordplay, irony, wit
satireearnestness
Genuine seriousness of intent
sincerity · seriousness · panegyric · eulogy · solemnity
satireapologia
Formal defense of views
defense · propaganda · celebration · vindication · advocacy
- satirical cartoonsHumorous art criticizing society
- political satireMockery of government
- satirical comedyHumor exposing folly
- biting satireHarsh, pointed social mockery
- news satireHumorous mock reporting
- satirical novelFiction mocking through irony
satirical, satirize, satiric, satirist, satires, satirists, satirizer, satirized, satirise