Definition

1. Noun:
   • A literary work or artistic form that uses humor, irony, exaggeration, or ridicule to expose and criticize people's stupidity or vices, particularly in the context of contemporary politics and other topical issues. It is a genre that aims to provoke thought and often inspire reform by holding a mirror to society.
   • The use of such humor, irony, or ridicule in exposing, denouncing, or deriding vice, folly, etc. It is the technique or style itself.

Examples of Usage

• Noun:
  • Jonathan Swift's "A Modest Proposal" is a famous example of political satire.
  • The cartoonist's sharp satire of corporate greed was widely shared.
  • The novel is a brilliant satire on modern celebrity culture.

Advanced Usage

• "a satire on/upon something": a work that satirizes a particular subject.
  • The film is a biting satire upon bureaucratic inefficiency.
• "biting/caustic/scathing satire": satire that is very harsh and critical.
  • The playwright was known for her scathing satire of social conventions.
• "gentle/light satire": satire that is mild and more humorous than harsh.
  • The article was a piece of gentle satire, poking fun at modern dating habits.

Variants and Related Words

• Satirize (verb): to mock or criticize by using satire.
  • The show satirizes the daily life of politicians.
• Satirical (adjective): containing or using satire.
  • He writes satirical columns for the newspaper.
• Satirist (noun): a person who writes or performs satire.
  • The satirist was invited to speak about the role of comedy in politics.

Synonyms

• Lampoon: a harsh satire usually directed against an individual.
• Parody: a work that imitates the style of something for comic effect or ridicule, often overlapping with satire.
• Sarcasm: harsh, cutting remarks or irony used to mock or convey contempt (sarcasm is often a of satire).
• Irony: a state of affairs or an event that seems deliberately contrary to what one expects and is often amusing as a result (a common device in satire).

Related Phrases

• A vehicle for satire: something used as a means to deliver satire.
  • The comic strip served as a perfect vehicle for his satire.
• The object of satire: the person, institution, or idea that is being satirized.
  • In that era, the monarchy was a frequent object of satire.

Related Idioms

• "To hold a mirror up to society": This phrase describes the essential function of much satire—to reflect society's flaws back to itself.
  • True satire doesn't just mock; it aims to hold a mirror up to society.

Noun

1. witty language used to convey insults or scorn
   • he used sarcasm to upset his opponent
   • irony is wasted on the stupid
   • Satire is a sort of glass, wherein beholders do generally discover everybody's face but their own--Jonathan Swift