mordant

Advancedzipf 2.25

Pronunciation

/ˈmɔːrdənt/(MOR-dunt)

Part of speech

adjectiveformal

Chinese

尖锐的；辛辣的（尤指言辞）

Definition

Having or showing a sharp or critical quality; bitingly sarcastic.

Word family

  • mordancy/ˈmɔːrdənsi/(n)辛辣
  • mordantly/ˈmɔːrdəntli/(adv)辛辣地

Collocations

  • mordant wit
  • mordant humor
  • mordant commentary
  • mordant observation

Examples

  1. 1.Her mordant wit could deflate the most pompous speaker in a single sentence. (bitingly sharp)
  2. 2.The film offers a mordant commentary on suburban conformity. (sharply critical)

Synonyms

  • caustic/ˈkɔːstɪk/— burning, harshly critical
  • acerbic/əˈsɜːrbɪk/— sharp and forthright
  • trenchant/ˈtrɛntʃənt/— vigorous and incisive

Etymology

from Latin "mordere" (to bite) — words that bite