mordant
Say it: MOR-dunt /ˈmɔːd(ə)nt/ · adjective
What “mordant” means
Funny in a biting, darkly critical way.
More precisely: Having a sharp, biting, often darkly critical sense of humour.
Example: “His mordant wit made the eulogy both hilarious and heartbreaking.”
When to use it
Use it for humour that cuts sharply into bleak subjects or human failings; it often sounds literary.
Memory trick
Latin “mordere” means to bite: mordant humour has teeth.
Similar words
caustic, biting, acerbic
Where it comes from
From Latin mordere, 'to bite'.
Quick check
Facing endless overtime, someone jokes, “Our retirement party will be a séance.” The humour is sharply critical and…
light-hearted or mordant?
Show the answer
mordant
Learn 5 new words a day in Kinquire. Each with a picture, how to say it, an example and a quick check, then spaced review so you actually keep them. Free to start.
Learn “mordant”