Antonyms for satire


Grammar : Noun
Spell : sat-ahyuh r
Phonetic Transcription : ˈsæt aɪər


Definition of satire

Origin :
  • late 14c., "work intended to ridicule vice or folly," from Middle French satire (14c.) and directly from Latin satira "satire, poetic medley," earlier satura, in lanx satura "mixed dish, dish filled with various kinds of fruit," literally "full dish," from fem. of satur "sated" (see saturate).
  • First used in the literary sense in Latin in reference to a collection of poems in various meters on a variety of subjects by the late republican Roman poet Ennius. The matter of the little that survives of his verse does not seem to be particularly satiric, but in classical Latin the word came to mean especially a poem which assailed the prevailing vices, one after another. Altered in Latin by influence of Greek satyr, on mistaken notion that the literary form is related to the Greek satyr drama (see satyr).
  • Satire, n. An obsolete kind of literary composition in which the vices and follies of the author's enemies were expounded with imperfect tenderness. In this country satire never had more than a sickly and uncertain existence, for the soul of it is wit, wherein we are dolefully deficient, the humor that we mistake for it, like all humor, being tolerant and sympathetic. Moreover, although Americans are 'endowed by their Creator' with abundant vice and folly, it is not generally known that these are reprehensible qualities, wherefore the satirist is popularly regarded as a sour-spirited knave, and his every victim's outcry for codefendants evokes a national assent. [Ambrose Bierce, "Devil's Dictionary," 1911]Proper satire is distinguished, by the generality of the reflections, from a lampoon which is aimed against a particular person, but they are too frequently confounded. [Johnson][I]n whatever department of human expression, wherever there is objective truth there is satire [Wyndham Lewis, "Rude Assignment," 1950]
  • For nuances of usage, see humor (n.).
  • noun ridicule intended to expose truth
Example sentences :
  • The satire was not very brilliant or ingenious; but its meaning was clear.
  • Extract from : « De Libris: Prose and Verse » by Austin Dobson
  • He had wit and humour, with an inclination to satire, which he indulged rather too much.
  • Extract from : « Joseph Andrews Vol. 1 » by Henry Fielding
  • By the time it reaches me, he will be in his grave; a satire on his own anger, God help him!'
  • Extract from : « Life And Adventures Of Martin Chuzzlewit » by Charles Dickens
  • Whether these learned bodies feared the satire of his presence.
  • Extract from : « The Atlantic Monthly, Vol. 10, No. 58, August, 1862 » by Various
  • What a satire on the whole kit of them that word living, so constantly in all their mouths, is!
  • Extract from : « Wilfrid Cumbermede » by George MacDonald
  • Is there, then, a distinctly American type of humor and satire?
  • Extract from : « The American Mind » by Bliss Perry
  • The object of his discourse was a panegyric of himself and a satire on all other conjurors.
  • Extract from : « Vivian Grey » by Earl of Beaconsfield, Benjamin Disraeli
  • His pages on these subjects are vigorous, well-reasoned, and pointed in their satire.
  • Extract from : « Shelley, Godwin and Their Circle » by H. N. Brailsford
  • Burlesque and satire are never far away in their most serious moments.
  • Extract from : « Rosinante to the Road Again » by John Dos Passos
  • The dialogue is also a satire on the philological fancies of the day.
  • Extract from : « Cratylus » by Plato

Synonyms for satire

Based on : Thesaurus.com - Gutenberg.org - Dictionary.com - Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019