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Wit vs. Sarcasm — What's the Difference?

Wit vs. Sarcasm — What's the Difference?

Difference Between Wit and Sarcasm

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Wit

Wit is a form of intelligent humour, the ability to say or write things that are clever and usually funny. Someone witty is a person who is skilled at making clever and funny remarks.

Sarcasm

Sarcasm is the use of words usually used to either mock or annoy someone, or for humorous purposes. Sarcasm may employ ambivalence, although it is not necessarily ironic.

Wit

The capacity for inventive thought and quick understanding; keen intelligence
She does not lack perception or native wit
He needed all his wits to figure out the way back

Sarcasm

A cutting, often ironic remark intended to express contempt or ridicule.

Wit

A natural aptitude for using words and ideas in a quick and inventive way to create humour
His caustic wit cuts through the humbug
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Sarcasm

A form of wit characterized by the use of such remarks
Detected a hint of sarcasm in his voice.

Wit

Have knowledge
I addressed a few words to the lady you wot of

Sarcasm

(uncountable) Use of acerbic language to mock or convey contempt, often using irony and (in speech) often marked by overemphasis and a sneering tone of voice.

Wit

That is to say (used to be more specific about something already referred to)
The textbooks show an irritating parochialism, to wit an almost total exclusion of papers not in English

Sarcasm

(countable) An act of sarcasm.

Wit

The natural ability to perceive and understand; intelligence.

Sarcasm

A keen, reproachful expression; a satirical remark uttered with some degree of scorn or contempt; a taunt; a gibe; a cutting jest.
The sarcasms of those critics who imagine our art to be a matter of inspiration.

Wit

Often wits Practical intelligence; shrewdness or resourcefulness
Living by one's wits.

Sarcasm

Witty language used to convey insults or scorn;
He used sarcasm to upset his opponent
Irony is wasted on the stupid
Satire is a sort of glass, wherein beholders do generally discover everybody's face but their own

Wit

Wits Sound mental faculties; sanity
Scared out of my wits.

Wit

(Archaic) A person of exceptional intelligence.

Wit

The ability to express oneself intelligently in a playful or humorous manner, often in overturning audience expectations
A writer with a scintillating wit.

Wit

A person noted for this ability, especially in conversation
“My mother, the family wit and teaser, knew better than to joke about the disaster” (Donald Hall).

Wit

Intelligent playfulness or humor in expression, as in speech, writing, or art
Novels known for their wit and inventiveness.

Wit

To be or become aware of; learn.

Wit

To know.

Wit

Sanity.
He's gone completely out of his wits.

Wit

The senses.

Wit

Intellectual ability; faculty of thinking, reasoning.
Where she has gone to is beyond the wit of man to say.

Wit

The ability to think quickly; mental cleverness, especially under short time constraints.
My father had a quick wit and a steady hand.

Wit

Intelligence; common sense.
The opportunity was right in front of you, and you didn't even have the wit to take it!

Wit

Humour, especially when clever or quick.
The best man's speech was hilarious, full of wit and charm.

Wit

A person who tells funny anecdotes or jokes; someone witty.
Your friend is quite a wit, isn't he?

Wit

Know, be aware of constructed with of when used intransitively.
You committed terrible actions — to wit, murder and theft — and should be punished accordingly.
They are meddling in matters that men should not wit of.

Wit

(Southern American English) with

Wit

To know; to learn.
Brethren, we do you to wit [make you to know] of the grace of God bestowed on the churches of Macedonia.
Thou wost full little what thou meanest.
We witen not what thing we prayen here.
When that the sooth in wist.

Wit

Mind; intellect; understanding; sense.
Who knew the wit of the Lord? or who was his counselor?
A prince most prudent, of an excellentAnd unmatched wit and judgment.
Will puts in practice what wit deviseth.
He wants not wit the dander to decline.

Wit

A mental faculty, or power of the mind; - used in this sense chiefly in the plural, and in certain phrases; as, to lose one's wits; at one's wits' end, and the like.
I will stare him out of his wits.

Wit

Felicitous association of objects not usually connected, so as to produce a pleasant surprise; also. the power of readily combining objects in such a manner.
The definition of wit is only this, that it is a propriety of thoughts and words; or, in other terms, thoughts and words elegantly adapted to the subject.
Wit which discovers partial likeness hidden in general diversity.
Wit lying most in the assemblage of ideas, and putting those together with quickness and variety wherein can be found any resemblance or congruity, thereby to make up pleasant pictures in the fancy.

Wit

A person of eminent sense or knowledge; a man of genius, fancy, or humor; one distinguished for bright or amusing sayings, for repartee, and the like.
In Athens, where books and wits were ever busier than in any other part of Greece, I find but only two sorts of writings which the magistrate cared to take notice of; those either blasphemous and atheistical, or libelous.
Intemperate wits will spare neither friend nor foe.
A wit herself, Amelia weds a wit.
But my five wits nor my five senses canDissuade one foolish heart from serving thee.

Wit

A message whose ingenuity or verbal skill or incongruity has the power to evoke laughter

Wit

Mental ability;
He's got plenty of brains but no common sense

Wit

A witty amusing person who makes jokes

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