Satire
noun /ˈsæt.aɪər/ — The use of humour or irony to expose and criticise folly
Definition
A literary form that uses wit, irony, and exaggeration to expose and mock the vices, absurdities, or follies of individuals, institutions, or society.
Beyond the definition
The art of saying the unsayable by making it funny. Satire lets critique travel where direct argument cannot — under cover of laughter.
Origin & history
From Latin 'satira' (a medley, a poetic mixture) — originally a dish of mixed fruits. Roman satirists like Juvenal and Horace used it to skewer their society.
Example sentences
Illustrative sentences for learning, not verified community posts or sourced quotations.
Swift's satire was so precise that readers initially took 'A Modest Proposal' literally.
Good satire makes you laugh first, then makes you feel slightly ashamed for laughing.
Satire is the tool of those who cannot speak directly and must therefore speak brilliantly.
Synonyms
Antonyms
earnestness, sincerity, praise
Related words
Word in the Wild
See how this word appears in life, language and stories.
Illustrative sentences and imagined stories for learning — not verified sightings, interviews, or sourced quotations.
Fictional scene
Partner copying the other's style
One adult confidently chooses a coat while their partner copies their posture, looking at the other for social cues.
The visual exaggeration of the partner’s imitation serves as a form of social satire. It mocks the folly of self-effacement and the loss of individual identity, exposing the absurdity of an unequal relationship through a pointed, symbolic visual mirror.
Image credit: Wordspun · AI-generated conceptual illustration