Sarcastic means saying the opposite of what you really mean, usually to mock something or express frustration. When your friend shows up an hour late and you say “Oh, great timing!” in a sharp tone, you're being sarcastic. You don't actually think their timing was great.

Sarcasm uses words that sound positive, but a tone of voice or context that makes the real meaning clear. If you study hard for a test and still fail, you might say sarcastically, “Well, that went perfectly.” The word perfectly normally means something went well, but your sarcastic tone shows you mean the opposite.

Sarcasm is tricky because it relies on tone and context. In writing, people sometimes add markers like exclamation points or even type “/s” to show they're being sarcastic, since readers can't hear the mocking tone.

Being sarcastic occasionally can be funny, but constant sarcasm can hurt feelings or make people think you're mean. If someone asks a genuine question and you respond sarcastically, they might feel embarrassed for asking.