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What is Satire?

Bear with me in perusing the following table. If one looks at the alternative words that can be used in exchange for "satire", you enter an area frequented by poets and writers who strive to avoid repetitive use of the same word. (Or perhaps they do understand the subtle differences(?)) Regardless, it's a merry chase and can be pursued for other words if one chooses. Word Perfect has an excellent speller which aids in selecting the correct spelling of a word, but a neat feature of this program is that it list, if you prompt it to, a list of synonymes as you may call them. Accordingly, you have a list of nouns and verbs; adjectives and adverbs that give substance to the words, as example; "cynic or satirist".

So we have a table of synonymes that aren't quite right for an intended purpose. (Or better yet, help in choosing the right word.)

As example, satire offers much as alternatives in subtle ways when it is intended to poke fun (chaff) at a public figure or institution. When Amborse Bierce is said to be a "satirist"of the first order, there is much leeway in deciding exactly what he may have been. Certainly, he used all the different meanings of the term "satire" in his rambles through journalism. Consider the words in the table; these were the weapons that he used to draw blood or in some cases inflict injury so slight the victim never knew that he had be the subject of Bierce's scorn.

When you write satire you use: sarcasm, irony, wit, ridicule, banter, chaff (poke fun), raillery (jesting, teasing), mockery, derision, caricature, lampoon (scurrilous, pasquinade (that which is posted in public places), deride, mock, ape, mimic, spoof, imitate), humor, repartee, badinage (banter, jest, joke, kid, rib), persiflage (flippant, banter), and more.

Satire may be:

Burlesque may be:
	Lampoon
	Parody
	Caricature
	Mockery
	Spoof
	Travesty
Lampoon may be:
	Deride may be:
		Jeer may be:
			Sneer may be
				Deride
				Scorn may be:
					Despise
					Disdain may be:
						Spurn
						Slight may be:
							Impugn may be:
								Attack
								Censure
								Denigrate
								Execrate
								Oppose
								Libel
								Malign
								Affront
								Offend
								Provoke
								Slight
								Backbite
								Defame
								Revile
								Confute
								Exaggeration
								Dissent
								Criticize
								Fault
								Vilify may be:
									Malign
									Slur
									Defame
									Slander
							Disregard
							Aspersion may be:
								Calumny may be:
									Malicious may be:
										Baleful
										Hateful
										Nasty
										Spiteful
										Bitchy
										Vicious
										Mean
										Antagonistic
										Hostile
										Malevolent
										Inimical
										Invidious
										Venomous
										Mock
										Sardonic
										Sneering
										Snide
										Vindictive
										Cruel
								Denigration
								Malediction
								Defamation
								Indignity
								Injury
							Condescend
							Patronize
							Indifference
						Ostracize
						Dismiss
						Execrate
						Contemn
						Flout
						Patronize
						Repudiate
						Snub
						Contempt
					Insult
				Badger
				Harass
				Hound
				Belittle
				Tease
				Insult
				Slur
				Catcall
				Hoot
				Dare
			Heckle
			Razz
			Gibe
			Taunt
			Lambaste
			Roast
		Mock
		Parody
		Ridicule
		Satirize
		Mimic
		Exaggeration
	Parody may be:
		Masquerade
		Deride
	Travesty may be:
		Corruption
		Distortion
		Perversion
		Pretense
		Sham
	Irony may be:
		Incongruity
		Paradox
		Contradiction
		Sarcasm
		Double entendre
		Contempt
		Derision
		Ridicule
		Raillery
	Raillery may be:
		Badinage
		Banter
		Jest
		Joke
		Kid
		Rib

And we can continue with:

Contradiction
Sarcasm
Double entendre
Contempt
Derision
Ridicule
Raillery

Raillery

Badinage
Banter
Jest
Joke
Kid
Rib
Tease
Buffoonery
Drollery
Irony
Ridicule
Ridicule

Belittle
Humiliate
Jeer
Mock
Taunt
Tease
Deride
Scoff
Scorn
Sneer
Abuse
Decry
Deprecate
Depreciate
Disparage
Disdain
Flout
Insult
Offend
Gibe
Jest
Lampoon
Parody
Satirize
Rag
Derision
Mockery
Sarcasm
Sneer
Contempt
Caricature

Mock
Parody
Satirize
Coloring
Embellish
Exaggerate
Magnify
Overstate
Masquerade
Mimic
Imitate
Exaggeration
Lampoon
Satire
Farce
Mockery
Farce

Absurdity
Nonsense
Mockery
Joke
Sport
Play
Dress
Stuffing
Mockery

Derision
Jeer
Ridicule
Taunt
Joke
Laughingstock
Contempt
Pretense
Disrespect
Impiety
Irreverence
Exaggeration
Imitation
Takeoff
Sneer
Sacrilege
Ungodliness
Irony
Spoof

Deception
Fraud
Hoax
Joke
Ruse
Exaggeration
Imitation
Quip
Sally
Travesty
Exaggeration

Aggrandizement
Enhancement
Stretch
Hyperbole
Overstatement
Lie
Prevarication
Tale
Cartoon

Sketch
Animate
Comedy

Burlesque
Farce
Buffoonery
Humor
Joke
Amusement
Drollery
Melodrama
Melodrama

Tragedy
Play

Playact
Blow
Caper
Cavort
Gambol
Dabble
Dally
Toy
Wriggle
Tragedy

Misadventure
Affliction
Anguish
Takeoff

Exaggeration
Imitation
Mockery
Spoof
Waggery

As you can see in many cases, you come full circle with one choice of word suggesting the word from which it was spawned.
So, make as much or as little of satire as you please.

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