Mordant

Mordant describes something, often language or humor, that is sharply sarcastic, biting, and critical. It cuts deeply with its wit, frequently employing irony or cynicism to expose flaws or failings. It can also refer to something that acts as a corrosive agent, etching or staining a surface. This duality reflects the word's power to both analyze and diminish, leaving a lasting impression through its pointed critique.

Mordant meaning with examples

• The political satirist's mordant commentary on the election, peppered with dark humor and cynical observations, left the audience both laughing and thoughtfully disturbed. His ability to highlight hypocrisy through biting wit was his hallmark.
• Her mordant wit was a shield against vulnerability. She used sarcasm as a defense mechanism, deflecting emotional closeness with pointed jokes that masked her true feelings and kept others at arm's length.
• The art critic's mordant review of the exhibit savaged the artist's technical shortcomings, dissecting each piece with a precision that exposed the flaws in composition and execution, leaving no brushstroke un-scathed.
• The historian's mordant analysis of the social and economic factors leading to the revolution highlighted the greed and inequality prevalent, revealing a stark and unforgiving reality.
• The novel's protagonist had a mordant sense of humor, constantly making sarcastic remarks about everything to the dismay of the other characters. Despite this the readers were left smiling, appreciating his cynicism.