sarcastic
adjective
I've had enough of your sarcastic comments:
sardonic, ironic, ironical, satirical;
derisive, scornful, contemptuous, mocking, ridiculing, sneering, jeering, scoffing, taunting, snide;
caustic, scathing, trenchant, mordant, cutting, sharp, stinging, acerbic, tart, acid;
British, informal sarky;
rare mordacious, acidulous.
| choose the right word | sarcastic, sardonic, ironic, caustic |
■ A sarcastic comment expresses the opposite of what it literally means, thus mocking the person on the receiving end, while possibly entertaining others (“That's nice,” Broomhead said in his most sarcastic manner | the youngsters gave a sarcastic cheer). ■ Sardonic suggests a grimmer, more cynical amusement. It is used of actual utterances less frequently than the other three words, so people typically give a sardonic smile or grin, display sardonic amusement, or raise a sardonic eyebrow. ■ As with sarcasm, ironic remarks convey the opposite of their literal meaning, but more subtly and with an effect of wry amusement rather than blatant mockery (Annie Lennox's first solo LP “Diva”, which she claims is an ironic title). ■ A caustic remark is cruelest of all; it is straightforward, but scathing or bitter (she longed to hurl some caustic retort at him). | |