sarcasm

CEFRC2

/ˈsɑːɹˌkæzəm/

noun

Türkçe translations

Translating…

In plain English

  1. 01

    noun

    Words that mean the opposite of what they seem, used to mock.

  2. 02

    noun

    Extra detail

    An individual act of the above.

Examples

  • He spoke with a suggestion of sarcasm in his voice.

  • His sarcasm galls me.

At a glance

Sits at C2 on the CEFR scale

Senses
3
Parts of speech
1
Citations
1
Synonyms
5

Deep Dive

noun

Extra meaning

  1. Use of acerbic language to mock or convey contempt, often using verbal irony and (in speech) often marked by overemphasis and sneering.

More examples

In context

  • 2015, Alex Kozinski, Demuth v. County of Los Angeles, 798 F.3d 837, 839 (9th Cir. 2015). While challenging someone equipped with a badge, handcuffs and a gun to “arrest me” was unwise on Demuth’s part, we fail to see what legal difference her statement makes....

  • Although the Celebrity was almost impervious to sarcasm, he was now beginning to exhibit visible signs of uneasiness, the consciousness dawning upon him that his eccentricity was not receiving the ovation it merited.

Synonyms

Quick test

Two questions on this entry. Nothing is scored.

Question 1 · Quick check

His blank was clear when he said 'Great job' after she made a huge mistake.

Practise this properly in the app, where the word comes back before you forget it.

Nearby

Origin

noun

From Late Latin sarcasmus, from Ancient Greek σαρκασμός (sarkasmós, “a sneer”), from σαρκάζω (sarkázō, “to gnash the teeth (in anger)”, literally “to strip off the flesh”), from σάρξ (sárx, “flesh”).