mordant

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

Several years ago, on a cross-Atlantic literary festival where Shriver was an invited author, I observed a packed audience whoop and cheer Shriver’s mordant observations about everything wrong with the world.

From The Wall Street Journal • Jan. 31, 2026

The fascinated Kayleen, clearly outclassed in the first round of the ailment and injury competition that forms the mordant spine of the play, asks to see and touch Doug’s wound.

From The Wall Street Journal • Dec. 4, 2025

Yes, there's been some mordant chuckling in the media over his bizarre comments about "the late great Hannibal Lecter" and his meandering tales about electric boats and shark attacks.

From Salon • Sep. 6, 2024

His gimlet-eyed observations and mordant humor announced the arrival of a playwright with something to say and the fiery eloquence with which to say it.

From Los Angeles Times • Jul. 16, 2024

It failed to reach Sagane until after the war and was returned years later to Alvarez, who put his signature to it and delivered it again to Sagane as a mordant keepsake.

From "Big Science" by Michael Hiltzik