English Reference
Adjective

satirical

adj.
B2 Upper Intermediate US /səˈtɪɹəkəɫ/ UK /sɐtˈɪɹɪkəl/ satir·i·cal

adj.using humor, irony, or exaggeration to show that someone or something is foolish or bad. You often see this in books or shows that make fun of politicians or society.

adj.utilising irony, sarcasm, or ridicule to expose and criticise human vice or folly. Often used to describe literary or artistic works that mock social institutions or public figures.


SIMPLE

The show is a satirical look at modern politics.

CONTEXTUAL

The magazine is famous for its satirical cartoons that mock the greed of corporate executives.

COMPLEX

Swift's essay remains a masterpiece of satirical writing, using a cold, logical tone to highlight the absurdity and cruelty of contemporary social policies.

Usage

Typically used attributively before a noun to describe creative works, such as 'satirical novel' or 'satirical sketch'.

Pitfall
a satiric moviea satirical movie

While 'satiric' is a valid variant, 'satirical' is the much more common form used by native speakers to describe creative works.

Led by the satirical Cockroach Janta Party (CJP), the movement spread through memes, livestreams and Instagram reels before evolving into a force strong enough to make a federal minister resign.

BBC News· 21 Aug 2026

It was this comment that led to the birth of Cockroach Janta Party, an online satirical movement, which saw millions of students and young people sign up.

BBC News· 18 Aug 2026

From satire + -ical.

Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.

This entry
Level B2 · Upper Intermediate
Frequency Frequent
Updated