mordant

adjective

ˈmȯr-dᵊnt How to pronounce mordant (audio)
Definition of mordantnext
as in satiric
marked by the use of wit that is intended to cause hurt feelings a mordant review of the movie that compared it to having one's teeth pulled for two hours

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Synonym Chooser

How does the adjective mordant contrast with its synonyms?

Some common synonyms of mordant are acrid, caustic, and scathing. While all these words mean "stingingly incisive," mordant suggests a wit that is used with deadly effectiveness.

mordant reviews of the play

When might acrid be a better fit than mordant?

The synonyms acrid and mordant are sometimes interchangeable, but acrid implies bitterness and often malevolence.

acrid invective

When would caustic be a good substitute for mordant?

The meanings of caustic and mordant largely overlap; however, caustic suggests a biting wit.

caustic comments

When can scathing be used instead of mordant?

While in some cases nearly identical to mordant, scathing implies indignant attacks delivered with fierce severity.

a scathing satire

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of mordant Twain reserved his most mordant reflections on American politics for Congress, in his time the most potent—and corrupt—branch of government. — Ron Chernow, The Atlantic, 2 July 2026 The direct ionic and hydrogen-bonding interactions between the prickly pear peel pigment and the wool fiber enabled by microwaving eliminates the need for a mordant intermediary. — Jennifer Bringle, Footwear News, 17 June 2026 But the main model is Humphrey Bogart, whose looks Cage’s recall more than a little; Bogart played Sam Spade and Philip Marlowe in the films most associated with those characters, whose mordant humor creator-writer Oren Uziel seeks to replicate here, with fair success. — Television Critic, Los Angeles Times, 25 May 2026 Like much of the Coens’ work, these are tragedies tinged with mordant humor and punctuated by the bleakest twists of fate. — Sezin Devi Keohler, Entertainment Weekly, 7 Mar. 2026 See All Example Sentences for mordant
Recent Examples of Synonyms for mordant
  1. satiric
  2. sarcastic
  3. acid
  4. acidic
  5. barbed
  6. caustic
Adjective
  • The extremely soapy, enjoyably satirical true-life drama chronicles love, rampant betrayal and a brazen murder plot through three decades of the iconic Gucci fashion house.
    — Brian Truitt, USA Today, 28 Aug. 2026
  • Film is an art form that ranges from the broadly entertaining to the sharply satirical and controversial.
    — James Hibberd, HollywoodReporter, 28 Aug. 2026
Definition of satiric
Adjective
  • The department’s post drew skeptical and sarcastic reactions from commenters who wondered whether the missing $30 called for a public search.
    — Stephen Sorace, FOXNews.com, 23 Aug. 2026
  • Our second president, John Adams, was said to have had a sarcastic demeanor and made biting remarks about his contemporaries.
    — John Blumenthal, Chicago Tribune, 16 Aug. 2026
Definition of sarcastic
Adjective
  • The idea that these two would have a five-minute-or-less breakup conversation, then plop down on the couch and happily embark on an acid trip together, strains credulity a little, even for this bizarre, codependent friend group.
    — Ben Rosenstock, Vulture, 28 Aug. 2026
  • In a sequencer that resembled a large fridge, millions of short nucleic-acid fragments would be identified in the span of ten hours.
    — Jason Liebowitz, New Yorker, 25 Aug. 2026
Definition of acid
Adjective
  • That’s because acidic foods such as tomatoes and oranges may react with aluminum foil, causing a metallic taste or slight discoloration, but don’t worry.
    — Bianca Lambert, Southern Living, 23 Aug. 2026
  • If the pH gets too acidic, nitrogen uptake is greatly reduced, leading to a deficiency in the plant, even if there’s plenty of nitrogen in the potting soil.
    — Andy Wilcox, Better Homes & Gardens, 22 Aug. 2026
Definition of acidic
Adjective
  • Up the other side of the ravine there is another fence, much like the first, but without the barbed wire.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 24 Aug. 2026
  • Light tubes, chains, scaffolds, chairs and a barbed wire table all made an appearance.
    — Ryan Gaydos, FOXNews.com, 16 Aug. 2026
Definition of barbed
Adjective
  • His relationship with the media also became caustic, with Mourinho boycotting press conferences and sending assistant Aitor Karanka instead.
    — Dermot Corrigan, New York Times, 21 Aug. 2026
  • Marsh was a fearless critic, rarely holding back even with his most caustic and controversial views.
    — Andy Greene, Rolling Stone, 15 Aug. 2026
Definition of caustic

Browse Nearby Words

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Cite this Entry

“Mordant.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/mordant. Accessed 2 Sep. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on mordant

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about mordant

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