Snark

/snɑːrk/

noun

A snide, sarcastic comment.

I could tell by his snark that he wasn't impressed with my performance.

Often appears as...

make a snark
deliver a snark

verb

To make a snide, sarcastic comment.

She snarked at him, rolling her eyes at his insistence on proper grammar.

Often appears as...

snark about
snark at

Usage tips

Informal

noun

A mythical creature from Lewis Carroll's 'The Hunting of the Snark'.

In the story, a crew of characters set off to hunt the elusive Snark.

Often appears as...

chasing the snark
hunting the snark

Usage tips

Literary

noun

A snide, sarcastic comment.

I could tell by his snark that he wasn't impressed with my performance.

Often appears as...

make a snark
deliver a snark

verb

To make a snide, sarcastic comment.

She snarked at him, rolling her eyes at his insistence on proper grammar.

Often appears as...

snark about
snark at

Usage tips

Informal

noun

A mythical creature from Lewis Carroll's 'The Hunting of the Snark'.

In the story, a crew of characters set off to hunt the elusive Snark.

Often appears as...

chasing the snark
hunting the snark

Usage tips

Literary

Definition 1 of 3

Pro Tip 1/3

Subtle Disdain

Used to subtly show disrespect or mocking in a clever way.

His comment, dripping with snark, deflated their excitement.

Pro Tip 2/3

Often Humorous

Snark can contain humor, but it might sting and not be taken lightly by everyone.

Expect some snark at a comedy roast; it's all in jest.

Pro Tip 3/3

Casual Tone

Typically informal and used among friends or on social media.

Her tweet was full of snark about the latest fashion fails.

Pro Tip 1/3

Subtle Disdain

Used to subtly show disrespect or mocking in a clever way.

His comment, dripping with snark, deflated their excitement.

Pro Tip 2/3

Often Humorous

Snark can contain humor, but it might sting and not be taken lightly by everyone.

Expect some snark at a comedy roast; it's all in jest.

Pro Tip 3/3

Casual Tone

Typically informal and used among friends or on social media.

Her tweet was full of snark about the latest fashion fails.

Pro Tip 1/3

Subtle Disdain

Used to subtly show disrespect or mocking in a clever way.

His comment, dripping with snark, deflated their excitement.

Pro Tip 2/3

Often Humorous

Snark can contain humor, but it might sting and not be taken lightly by everyone.

Expect some snark at a comedy roast; it's all in jest.

Pro Tip 3/3

Casual Tone

Typically informal and used among friends or on social media.

Her tweet was full of snark about the latest fashion fails.

Compare with

cynicderisionironymockeryridiculesarcasmsatiretaunt

Look up Compare with

Visual representation of the word "Snark"

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Video examples

I grew up in the...

I thought my rightness justified my rudeness -- harsh tones, raised voices, insults, interruptions -- but that strategy is ultimately counterproductive. Dialing up the volume and the snark is natural in stressful situations,

Video examples

I grew up in the...

Example 1 of 1

Quote examples

Alexis Ohanian

American Businessman

I get a lot more out of the - the touchy feely stuff that happens on reddit. And while I love the snark, and it makes me laugh, I am happy that there is this wonderful balance that plays out on reddit. Or you can get both. I enjoy having my cake and eating it too, especially if it's not a lie, and chocolate.

Quote examples

Julie Plec

American Producer

Hollywood, Twitter, our friends - they all contribute to a community of snark. The more we engage in the way that everyone else engages, the more followers, likes, and RTs we get. But we can't rail against the cyberbullies without acknowledging what we also contribute to a culture of cruelty.

Quote examples

Meghan Daum

American Author

When I talk to students or young writers about the importance of being unafraid to take controversial positions, I'm struck by the degree to which they can't entertain a thought, much less commit one to paper, without imagining the cacophony of snark they'll get in response.

Quote examples

Steven Weber

American Actor

Social media has created a legion of social delinquents, billions of people speaking not their minds but their spleens, venting everything from the gum-cracking snark befitting a hair-twisting mallrat to the froth-flecked rage of a bell tower marksman.

Quote examples

Geoffrey S. Fletcher

American Director

In these times of stress, snark, division and despair, I still suspect that two of the most important features we possess are imagination and a capacity for goodness. Those are qualities for which we will be remembered most fondly.

Quote examples

Tim Ferriss

American Author

What I don't like is snark for snark's sake. If you are going to make fun of me, at least be witty while doing it.

Quote examples

Ato Essandoh

American Actor

Once you get my snark going, I'll just start snarking it up all over Twitter.

Quote examples

Lydia Millet

American Novelist

Snark describes a cynical position, and I'm not interested in that.

Quote examples

Jason Bateman

American Actor

It earns you a lot of snark if you're able to convey vulnerability.

Quote examples

Rob Liefeld

American Writer

The Internet snark has zero effect on me.

Quote examples

Alexis Ohanian

American Businessman

I get a lot more out of the - the touchy feely stuff that happens on reddit. And while I love the snark, and it makes me laugh, I am happy that there is this wonderful balance that plays out on reddit. Or you can get both. I enjoy having my cake and eating it too, especially if it's not a lie, and chocolate.

Quote examples

Julie Plec

American Producer

Hollywood, Twitter, our friends - they all contribute to a community of snark. The more we engage in the way that everyone else engages, the more followers, likes, and RTs we get. But we can't rail against the cyberbullies without acknowledging what we also contribute to a culture of cruelty.

Quote examples

Meghan Daum

American Author

When I talk to students or young writers about the importance of being unafraid to take controversial positions, I'm struck by the degree to which they can't entertain a thought, much less commit one to paper, without imagining the cacophony of snark they'll get in response.

Quote examples

Steven Weber

American Actor

Social media has created a legion of social delinquents, billions of people speaking not their minds but their spleens, venting everything from the gum-cracking snark befitting a hair-twisting mallrat to the froth-flecked rage of a bell tower marksman.

Quote examples

Geoffrey S. Fletcher

American Director

In these times of stress, snark, division and despair, I still suspect that two of the most important features we possess are imagination and a capacity for goodness. Those are qualities for which we will be remembered most fondly.

Quote examples

Tim Ferriss

American Author

What I don't like is snark for snark's sake. If you are going to make fun of me, at least be witty while doing it.

Quote examples

Ato Essandoh

American Actor

Once you get my snark going, I'll just start snarking it up all over Twitter.

Quote examples

Lydia Millet

American Novelist

Snark describes a cynical position, and I'm not interested in that.

Quote examples

Jason Bateman

American Actor

It earns you a lot of snark if you're able to convey vulnerability.

Quote examples

Rob Liefeld

American Writer

The Internet snark has zero effect on me.

Example 1 of 10

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