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Satire

What Is Satire? (with Examples)

Satire is the use of humour, sarcasm, irony, or exaggeration to expose the flaws or vices of individuals, institutions, or groups (including their ideas, claims, and proposals).

Satire is most commonly used in the context of topical issues, particularly in the political arena.

Examples of Satire

Here are some examples of satire:

• If voting changed anything, they would make it illegal.
(This uses sarcasm to undermine democracy.)


• Ninety percent of the politicians give the other ten percent a bad reputation.
(This uses exaggeration to highlight the vices of politicians.)
• When I was a boy, I was told that anybody could become President. Now I'm beginning to believe it.
(This uses humour to allude that the current President has no talent.)

(This button uses irony to attack the idea of censorship.)