sarcasm

Everyday

Sarcasm is saying the opposite of what you mean, often in a mocking voice, to make fun of something or to show you are annoyed. tree →

In the lessons

Used in reading and talk: understanding tone of voice. If someone says "Oh, great!" when it rains on sports day, that is sarcasm. In stories it shows a character's mood. Sarcasm can hurt feelings, and it is hard to read in text messages.

Examples

• "Great weather for a picnic," he said with sarcasm, as it poured. tree →
• She did not notice the sarcasm in his voice. tree →
• Sarcasm can be funny, but it can also hurt people. tree →
• "Oh, thanks a lot," she said, full of sarcasm. tree →
• It's hard to tell sarcasm in a text message. tree →
• The teacher asked us not to use sarcasm in the debate. tree →
• But for the moment Wendy was shocked. “You conceit,” she exclaimed, with frightful sarcasm; “of course I did nothing!” tree →

Note

Uncountable. Adjective: sarcastic; adverb: sarcastically. Sarcasm is a kind of irony; irony is wider and not always mocking.