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Sarcasm

Rhetorical Devices
Pronunciation

Understanding ARPABET Pronunciation

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The pronunciation guide uses the ARPABET phonetic system—the same system used in speech recognition and text-to-speech applications.

Vowel Examples:
AE1 = cat, bat
EH1 = bed, head
IY1 = see, me
OW1 = go, boat
UW1 = boot, do
Stress Numbers:
0 = no stress (unstressed)
1 = primary stress (loud)
2 = secondary stress (medium)
Example:
AH0 TH IY1 N AH0
= a-THEE-na (Athena)

The stressed syllable (marked with 1) is pronounced louder and clearer than others.

Quick Definition

Sarcasm is a sharp, mocking form of verbal irony that says the opposite of what is meant to ridicule or criticize. Its tone is often biting or contemptuous.

Detailed Definition
Sarcasm uses apparent praise, agreement, or politeness to convey scorn, ridicule, or anger. Although it commonly relies on saying the opposite of what is meant, its purpose is more aggressively critical than irony in general. In poetry, sarcasm can give a speaker a defiant, bitter, comic, or satirical voice. It may attack hypocrisy, vanity, cruelty, or political power, while also revealing the speaker's frustration. Because sarcasm depends heavily on tone, context and diction help readers recognize the hostile meaning beneath the literal words.
Example
Example in poetry:
“How brave of the sun to rise after sleeping all night” mocks a trivial achievement; “Your broken promise is truly a masterpiece of loyalty” says the opposite of what is meant; “What exquisite music, said the poet, as the alarm screamed” sarcastically praises an unpleasant sound; “Thank you, storm, for choosing the day of our wedding” bitterly addresses misfortune
Additional Notes
Sarcasm depends heavily on context, tone, and the gap between literal words and intended meaning. On the page, poets may signal it through exaggeration, contradiction, diction, or surrounding details, since vocal tone is unavailable. Sarcasm can expose hypocrisy and power, but it may alienate readers if its target is unclear. It is sharper and more hostile than irony in general.
Also Known As
Biting Irony Caustic Mockery Mordant Ridicule
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