satire
Synonyms:
burlesque, caricature, lampoon, parody, pasquinade, travesty.
Related Words:
banter, causticity, humor, irony, mockery, parody, put-on, persiflage, raillery, repartee, sarcasm, skit, spoof, squib, takeoff, wit, witticism.
Synonym Study 1 (Dictionary.com):
Irony, sarcasm, and satire indicate mockery of something or someone.
The essential feature of irony is the indirect presentation of a contradiction between an action or expression and the context in which it occurs.
In the figure of speech, emphasis is placed on the opposition between the literal and intended meaning of a statement; one thing is said and its opposite implied, as in the comment, “Beautiful weather, isn't it?” made when it is raining or nasty.
Ironic literature exploits, in addition to the rhetorical figure, such devices as character development, situation, and plot to stress the paradoxical nature of reality or the contrast between an ideal and actual condition, set of circumstances, etc., frequently in such a way as to stress the absurdity present in the contradiction between substance and form.
Irony differs from sarcasm in greater subtlety and wit.
In sarcasm ridicule or mockery is used harshly, often crudely and contemptuously, for destructive purposes.
It may be used in an indirect manner, and have the form of irony, as in “What a fine musician you turned out to be!” or it may be used in the form of a direct statement, “You couldn't play one piece correctly if you had two assistants.”
The distinctive quality of sarcasm is present in the spoken word and manifested chiefly by vocal inflection, whereas satire and irony, arising originally as literary and rhetorical forms, are exhibited in the organization or structuring of either language or literary material.
Satire usually implies the use of irony or sarcasm for censorious or critical purposes and is often directed at public figures or institutions, conventional behavior, political situations, etc.
Synonym Study 2 (Dictionary.com):
Satire and lampoon refer to literary forms in which vices or follies are ridiculed.
Satire, the general term, often emphasizes the weakness more than the weak person, and usually implies moral judgment and corrective purpose:
Swift's satire of human pettiness and bestiality.
Lampoon refers to a form of satire, often political or personal, characterized by the malice or virulence of its attack:
lampoons of the leading political figures.
Synonym Study 3 (Merriam-Webster):
Wit, humor, irony, sarcasm, satire, repartee mean a mode of expression intended to arouse amusement.
Wit suggests the power to evoke laughter by remarks showing verbal felicity or ingenuity and swift perception especially of the incongruous:
a playful wit.
Humor implies an ability to perceive the ludicrous, the comical, and the absurd in human life and to express these usually without bitterness:
a sense of humor.
Irony applies to a manner of expression in which the intended meaning is the opposite of what is seemingly expressed:
the irony of the title.
Sarcasm applies to expression frequently in the form of irony that is intended to cut or wound:
given to heartless sarcasm.
Satire applies to writing that exposes or ridicules conduct, doctrines, or institutions either by direct criticism or more often through irony, parody, or caricature:
a satire on the Congress.
Repartee implies the power of answering quickly, pointedly, or wittily:
a dinner guest noted for repartee.
Origin:
First recorded in 1500–10; from Latin satira, variant of satura “medley,” perhaps feminine derivative of satur “sated” (see saturate). Dictionary 2: C16: from Latin satira a mixture, from satur sated, from satis enough. —Dictionary.com. //
First Known Use of satire: 1501. History and Etymology for satire: Middle French or Latin; Middle French, from Latin satura, satira, perhaps from (lanx) satura dish of mixed ingredients, from feminine of satur well-fed; akin to Latin satis enough — more at sad. —Merriam-Webster.
Sources: 1, 2.
burlesque, caricature, lampoon, parody, pasquinade, travesty.
Related Words:
banter, causticity, humor, irony, mockery, parody, put-on, persiflage, raillery, repartee, sarcasm, skit, spoof, squib, takeoff, wit, witticism.
Synonym Study 1 (Dictionary.com):
Irony, sarcasm, and satire indicate mockery of something or someone.
The essential feature of irony is the indirect presentation of a contradiction between an action or expression and the context in which it occurs.
In the figure of speech, emphasis is placed on the opposition between the literal and intended meaning of a statement; one thing is said and its opposite implied, as in the comment, “Beautiful weather, isn't it?” made when it is raining or nasty.
Ironic literature exploits, in addition to the rhetorical figure, such devices as character development, situation, and plot to stress the paradoxical nature of reality or the contrast between an ideal and actual condition, set of circumstances, etc., frequently in such a way as to stress the absurdity present in the contradiction between substance and form.
Irony differs from sarcasm in greater subtlety and wit.
In sarcasm ridicule or mockery is used harshly, often crudely and contemptuously, for destructive purposes.
It may be used in an indirect manner, and have the form of irony, as in “What a fine musician you turned out to be!” or it may be used in the form of a direct statement, “You couldn't play one piece correctly if you had two assistants.”
The distinctive quality of sarcasm is present in the spoken word and manifested chiefly by vocal inflection, whereas satire and irony, arising originally as literary and rhetorical forms, are exhibited in the organization or structuring of either language or literary material.
Satire usually implies the use of irony or sarcasm for censorious or critical purposes and is often directed at public figures or institutions, conventional behavior, political situations, etc.
Synonym Study 2 (Dictionary.com):
Satire and lampoon refer to literary forms in which vices or follies are ridiculed.
Satire, the general term, often emphasizes the weakness more than the weak person, and usually implies moral judgment and corrective purpose:
Swift's satire of human pettiness and bestiality.
Lampoon refers to a form of satire, often political or personal, characterized by the malice or virulence of its attack:
lampoons of the leading political figures.
Synonym Study 3 (Merriam-Webster):
Wit, humor, irony, sarcasm, satire, repartee mean a mode of expression intended to arouse amusement.
Wit suggests the power to evoke laughter by remarks showing verbal felicity or ingenuity and swift perception especially of the incongruous:
a playful wit.
Humor implies an ability to perceive the ludicrous, the comical, and the absurd in human life and to express these usually without bitterness:
a sense of humor.
Irony applies to a manner of expression in which the intended meaning is the opposite of what is seemingly expressed:
the irony of the title.
Sarcasm applies to expression frequently in the form of irony that is intended to cut or wound:
given to heartless sarcasm.
Satire applies to writing that exposes or ridicules conduct, doctrines, or institutions either by direct criticism or more often through irony, parody, or caricature:
a satire on the Congress.
Repartee implies the power of answering quickly, pointedly, or wittily:
a dinner guest noted for repartee.
Origin:
First recorded in 1500–10; from Latin satira, variant of satura “medley,” perhaps feminine derivative of satur “sated” (see saturate). Dictionary 2: C16: from Latin satira a mixture, from satur sated, from satis enough. —Dictionary.com. //
First Known Use of satire: 1501. History and Etymology for satire: Middle French or Latin; Middle French, from Latin satura, satira, perhaps from (lanx) satura dish of mixed ingredients, from feminine of satur well-fed; akin to Latin satis enough — more at sad. —Merriam-Webster.
Sources: 1, 2.