Words/Terms for Humor and Satire

Spoof

Imitation that often targets a general genre rather than one specific work.

Parody

A humorous imitation of a particular writer, artist, or genre, exaggerating its characteristic features for comic effect.

Satire

A genre of literature that uses humor, irony, or ridicule to criticize or mock societal norms, politics, or individuals.

Sarcasm

The use of words that mean the opposite of what you really want to say.

Self-deprecation

A form of humor where an individual belittles or undervalues themselves, often to appear relatable or modest.

Double Entendre

A word or phrase that's open to two interpretations

Dry humor

A style of humor that is delivered in a matter-of-fact tone, often without a change in facial expression.

Oxymoron

A figure of speech that combines contradictory terms, such as 'bittersweet' or 'deafening silence.'

Litotes

A form of understatement that uses double negatives or negation to express a positive statement, such as 'not bad' to mean 'good.'

Hyperbole

An exaggerated statement or claim not meant to be taken literally, used for emphasis or comedic effect.

Incongruity

Out of place

Ambiguity

The quality of being open to more than one interpretation, often used in humor to create confusion or surprise.

Caricature

An exaggerated portrayal of a person or thing, emphasizing distinctive features for comic effect.

Farce

A comedic genre that relies on exaggerated and improbable situations.

Something that is supposed to be serious but has turned ridiculous

Malapropism

The unintentional misuse of a word by confusion with one that sounds similar, often leading to humorous results.

Juxtaposition

The act of placing two or more elements side by side to highlight their differences or create contrast, often used in humor.

Benign violation

A benign violation is when something feels "wrong" or threatening but also feels "safe" or harmless at the same time. (An all-clear signal)

Comic reversal

A comic reversal (or plot reversal) is a sudden, dramatic shift in a story's direction, usually involving a sharp turn in the protagonist's fortunes, a major reveal, or an unexpected change in character roles

Invective

Insulting, abusive, or highly critical language

Situational irony

A situation where the outcome is contrary to what was expected.

Verbal Irony

A form of irony where someone says the opposite of what they really mean.

Dramatic irony

The audience or reader knows crucial information that the characters do not

Gallows humor

Humor that relates to very serious or frightening things (such as death and illness)

Persona

A "Mask" hiding an individual's true self.

Norm

A standard or pattern, especially of social behavior, that is typical or expected within a particular group.