satirical

satirical — adjective

1. using humour, exaggeration, or irony to mock and criticise people, ideas, or soc

1.adjectiveB2
Definition

using humour, exaggeration, or irony to mock and criticise people, ideas, or society, often with a political aim

Example

Known for its satirical cartoons, the magazine has a loyal following among young readers.

collocation: satirical cartoons

Paloma wrote a satirical play that made fun of corporate culture in Seoul.

Common collocations
  • satirical magazine
  • satirical cartoon
  • satirical article
  • satirical play
  • satirical news programme
  • satirical take on [something]
  • satirical website
  • satirical comedy
Synonyms
  • ironic

    emphasises saying the opposite of what is meant; a narrower technique that satire often uses but does not fully equal

  • sarcastic

    focuses on verbal cruelty or scorn; satirical work may include sarcasm but is usually broader in intent

  • mocking

    less formal and does not imply a larger critical or political purpose

  • sardonic

    conveys a more bitter, dismissive tone than satirical

Antonyms
  • serious

    lacks the humorous or ironic intention of satire

  • earnest

    sincere and straightforward, without the critical distance that satire requires

Usage Note

Frequently used of media genres — articles, cartoons, plays, television shows, and online content. The target of the satire is typically an institution, a public figure, or a social trend.

Common Mistakes

His sarcastic article criticised the government.
His satirical article criticised the government.
'sarcastic' refers to a bitter or cutting tone in speech; 'satirical' describes a genre of humour that mocks to expose flaws, not just a harsh attitude.

Word family

  • satire
    nounB2
  • satirist
    nounC1
  • satirize
    verbC1
  • satiric
    adjectiveC1

Synonym discussion

Sense: adjective/1

Satirical describes a work or comment that uses humour, exaggeration, or irony to criticise people, ideas, or institutions — it often has a political or social purpose. Ironic is narrower: it refers to saying the opposite of what you mean or highlighting a contradiction, and irony can exist without any critical intention. Sarcastic is sharper and more personal — a sarcastic remark aims to hurt or belittle, whereas satirical writing typically targets systems or behaviours rather than individuals. Mocking is more informal and direct; you can mock someone's appearance or mistake, but a satirical piece usually has a wider critical goal, like exposing hypocrisy in government policy. For example, a satirical news show might use irony to expose political dishonesty, while a sarcastic colleague might simply sneer at a coworker's idea.

satirical ↗ironic ↗sarcastic ↗mocking

Common collocations

Adverbs

Etymology

LatinFrenchEnglish

From Latin satira (later satura), meaning 'a poetic medley' or 'a dish of mixed fruits', which came to refer to the Roman verse form that criticised vice and folly. The English adjective satirical took shape in the 1500s, closely following the noun satire.