Satire is the use of humour or exaggeration in order to show how foolish or wicked some people's behaviour or ideas are.
The commercial side of the Christmas season is an easy target for satire.
2. countable noun
A satire is a play, film, or novel in which humour or exaggeration is used to criticize something.
...a sharp satire on the American political process. [+ on]
Synonyms: parody, mockery, caricature, send-up [British, informal] More Synonyms of satire
More Synonyms of satire
satire in British English
(ˈsætaɪə)
noun
1.
a novel, play, entertainment, etc, in which topical issues, folly, or evil are held up to scorn by means of ridicule and irony
2.
the genre constituted by such works
3.
the use of ridicule, irony, etc, to create such an effect
Word origin
C16: from Latin satira a mixture, from satur sated, from satis enough
satire in American English
(ˈsæˌtaɪr)
noun
1.
a.
a literary work in which vices, follies, stupidities, abuses, etc. are held up to ridicule and contempt
b.
such literary works collectively, or the art of writing them
2.
the use of ridicule, sarcasm, irony, etc. to expose, attack, or deride vices, follies, etc.
SIMILAR WORDS: ˈcaricature, wit
Word origin
Fr < L satira or satura, satire, poetic medley < (lanx) satura, (dish) of various fruits, prob. < Etr, of Thracian orig.
Examples of 'satire' in a sentence
satire
This is a sharp and funny satire about the whole sorry business of writing fiction.
Times, Sunday Times (2007)
We live in a democracy where political satire is part and parcel of our democracy.
Times, Sunday Times (2009)
This is as sharp as the satire gets.
Times, Sunday Times (2008)
Political satire has become an easy laugh.
Times, Sunday Times (2007)
Him with the hair and the podcasts brings his sharp political satire back to the stage.
Times, Sunday Times (2013)
The people who live here are belittled with irony and satire for their neat ambitions and their careful pleasures.
Times, Sunday Times (2010)
The most middle-class form of middleclass humour is satire.
Times, Sunday Times (2011)
It may be the quick-witted humour and laughing satire that first strike visitors to this show.
Times, Sunday Times (2014)
There is humour, irony and satire.
Times, Sunday Times (2006)
Most people blamed the format, which struggled to decide if it was a satire show or a typical magazine programme.
The Sun (2011)
Expect satire and topical chat.
The Sun (2015)
The satire shows that, then as now, you are what you eat.
Diane Purkiss The English Civil War: A People's History (2006)
It's a slow-moving story but be patient and you will be rewarded with a wicked political satire.
The Sun (2006)
An unorthodox blend of biting satire and music-hall humour, it sometimes feels too whimsical for its own good.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
They are much, much happier with irony and satire, tropes that allow you to feel smug but detached.
Times, Sunday Times (2011)
Whether it's aiming for zany hilarity or astute satire, this show needs to stop preening and sharpen its claws.
Times, Sunday Times (2008)
The writer and characters are Italian, but this very funny satire about the stuffy little world of literature could be set anywhere.
Times, Sunday Times (2013)
I originally loved the screenplay because it is a wicked satire on the writer's role in contemporary Hollywood.
Times, Sunday Times (2014)
We don't seem to be capable of writing the purely political play or social satire that you guys seem to excel at, so who the hell knows?
Times, Sunday Times (2013)
Quotations
It's hard not to write satireJuvenalSatires
Satire is a sort of glass, wherein beholders do generally discover everybody's face but their ownJonathan SwiftThe Battle of the Books
In other languages
satire
British English: satire NOUN
Satire is the use of humour to criticize people's behaviour or ideas.
He is an easy target for satire.
American English: satire
Brazilian Portuguese: sátira
Chinese: 讽刺
European Spanish: sátira
French: satire
German: Satire
Italian: satira
Japanese: 風刺
Korean: 풍자
European Portuguese: sátira
Latin American Spanish: sátira
Chinese translation of 'satire'
satire
(ˈsætaɪəʳ)
n
(u) (= humour) 讽(諷)刺 (fěngcì)
(c) (= novel, play) 讽(諷)刺作品 (fěngcì zuòpǐn)
1 (noun)
Definition
the use of ridicule to expose incompetence, evil, or corruption
It's an easy target for satire.
Synonyms
mockery
Was there a glint of mockery in his eyes?
wit
Bill was known for his biting wit.
irony
She examined his face for a hint of irony, but found none.
ridicule
He was subjected to public ridicule.
sarcasm
His voice was heavy with sarcasm.
raillery
pasquinade
2 (noun)
Definition
a play, novel, or poem containing satire
a sharp satire on the American political process
Synonyms
parody
a parody of a well-known soap opera
mockery
caricature
a chalk-drawn caricature of a pop-eyed judge brandishing a gavel
send-up (British, informal)
a classic send-up of sixties rock
spoof (informal)
a spoof on Hollywood life
travesty
If he couldn't prepare his case properly the trial would be a travesty.
takeoff (informal)
an inspired takeoff of the two sisters
lampoon
his scathing lampoons of consumer culture
skit
clever skits on popular songs
burlesque
The book read like a black comic burlesque.
Quotations
It's hard not to write satire [Juvenal – Satires]Satire is a sort of glass, wherein beholders do generally discover everybody's face but their own [Jonathan Swift – The Battle of the Books]
Additional synonyms
in the sense of burlesque
Definition
an artistic work, esp. literary or dramatic, satirizing a subject by caricaturing it
The book read like a black comic burlesque.
Synonyms
parody,
mockery,
satire,
caricature,
send-up (British, informal),
spoof (informal),
travesty,
takeoff (informal)
in the sense of caricature
Definition
a description or explanation of something that is so exaggerated or over-simplified that it is difficult to take seriously
a chalk-drawn caricature of a pop-eyed judge brandishing a gavel
Synonyms
parody,
cartoon,
distortion,
satire,
send-up (British, informal),
travesty,
takeoff (informal),
lampoon,
burlesque,
mimicry,
farce,
pasquinade
in the sense of irony
Definition
the mildly sarcastic use of words to imply the opposite of what they normally mean
She examined his face for a hint of irony, but found none.
Synonyms
sarcasm,
mockery,
ridicule,
bitterness,
scorn,
satire,
cynicism,
derision,
causticity,
mordancy
Nearby words of
satire
satellite
satiate
satiety
satire
satirical
satirize
satisfaction
Synonyms of 'satire'
satire
Explore 'satire' in the dictionary
Additional synonyms
in the sense of lampoon
Definition
a piece of writing ridiculing a person
his scathing lampoons of consumer culture
Synonyms
satire,
parody,
caricature,
send-up (British, informal),
takeoff (informal),
skit,
squib,
burlesque,
pasquinade,
piss-take (informal)
in the sense of raillery
Definition
good-natured teasing
Synonyms
teasing,
sport,
kidding (informal),
joke,
joking,
irony,
ridicule,
satire,
josh (slang, US, Canadian),
mockery,
banter,
jesting,
chaff,
pleasantry,
repartee,
badinage,
persiflage
in the sense of ridicule
Definition
language or behaviour intended to humiliate or mock
He was subjected to public ridicule.
Synonyms
mockery,
scorn,
derision,
laughter,
irony,
rib,
taunting,
sneer,
satire,
jeer,
banter,
sarcasm,
chaff,
gibe,
raillery,
banter
in the sense of sarcasm
Definition
mocking or ironic language intended to insult someone
His voice was heavy with sarcasm.
Synonyms
irony,
satire,
cynicism,
contempt,
ridicule,
bitterness,
scorn,
sneering,
mockery,
venom,
derision,
vitriol,
mordancy,
causticness
in the sense of send-up
Definition
a parody or imitation
a classic send-up of sixties rock
Synonyms
parody,
take-off (informal),
satire,
mockery,
spoof (informal),
imitation,
skit,
mickey-take (informal)
in the sense of skit
Definition
a short funny or satirical sketch
clever skits on popular songs
Synonyms
parody,
spoof (informal),
travesty,
takeoff (informal),
burlesque,
turn,
sketch
in the sense of spoof
Definition
an imitation of a film, TV programme, etc., that exaggerates in an amusing way the most memorable features of the original
a spoof on Hollywood life
Synonyms
parody,
takeoff (informal),
satire,
caricature,
mockery,
send-up (British, informal),
travesty,
lampoon,
burlesque
in the sense of takeoff
Definition
an act of mimicry
an inspired takeoff of the two sisters
Synonyms
parody,
imitation,
send-up (British, informal),
mocking,
satire,
caricature,
spoof (informal),
travesty,
lampoon,
piss-take (informal)
in the sense of travesty
Definition
a grotesque imitation or mockery
If he couldn't prepare his case properly the trial would be a travesty.
Synonyms
mockery,
distortion,
parody,
caricature,
sham,
send-up (British, informal),
spoof (informal),
perversion,
takeoff (informal),
lampoon,
burlesque
in the sense of wit
Definition
(used to introduce a statement or explanation) that is to say