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satirist

satirist

11 7.0
A person, often a writer or comedian, who uses humor and irony to criticize people and ideas
  • noun
  • /ˈsætəˌrɪst/
  • Literature
translation icon : satirista
  • The satirist cleverly used humor to highlight the absurdities of modern politics.

And Michael Moore is a out and out satirist whose whose mission in life is to sort of set the world to rights by satirising the bad guys and sending them up.

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Examples

  • In a perfect world, Iowahawk would be one of the most recognized comic satirists in America.

    Blog text (21)
  • Throughout American history, political satirists have done more than allow us to laugh at ourselves and our government.

    Blog text (32)
  • I considered who wrote it - not a known satirist or humorist of any kind.

    Blog text (3)
  • He's widely regarded as the finest satirist of his time.

  • I was so pleased by this rediscovery that I passed it on to some friends, including satirist Tom Lehrer.

    Academic text (2009)
  • The Founders were not like the satirists who made fun of man's limitations, thinking themselves above them.

    Academic text (2005)
  • Through hundreds of columns beginning in 1893, he was a national sage and satirist laureate.

    Blog text (10)
  • Alexie is a postmodern satirist whose work challenges authenticity and highlights social issues.

    Academic text (2008)
  • In Pacifica, a local radio station aired, during an early weekday afternoon, a monologue by the satirist George Carlin.

    Academic text (1996)
  • Two thousand years ago, Juvenal, the satirist of the corrupt Roman legal system, asked, "quis custodiet ipsos custodies?"

    Blog text (27)

Synonyms

ironist
vssatirist
1 8.7

A person who says the opposite of what they mean to show someone is wrong

uses broader satire and humor to criticize rather than only irony
parodist
vssatirist
1 8.6

Someone who copies the style of a writer or artist to make people laugh

uses satire broadly to criticize rather than merely imitate for laughs
lampooner
vssatirist
8.4

A person who makes fun of others by copying their words or music in a funny way

uses general satire not limited to imitation for comic effect
ridiculer
vssatirist
8.4

A person who makes fun of others using sarcasm to make people laugh

focuses on criticism and exposing vice rather than only mocking

How Satirical

lampooner
8.4
satirist
  • Literature
11 7.0
parodist
1 8.6
humorist
  • US
12 5.0

Surface Forms

satirist singular
satirists plural

Morphology

satirist = satire (transparent) = satire + ist

Formed by the productive agentive suffix '-ist' added to 'satire', meaning 'one who practices or writes satire', which is directly inferable.

Etymology

Satirist comes from the Latin word satira, which meant 'a mix' of poems used to mock or criticize people. A helpful way to remember it is to think of the wild satyr from old stories, which matches the sharp, teasing voice of a satirist, so a satirist is someone who uses humor and irony to expose foolishness or bad behavior.