Word Pronunciation & Dictionary

snarky

/ˈsnɑɹ.ki/

Word Rarity Rare

Frequency: Zipf frequency 2.83 in modern English

Syllables: snarky
IPA: /ˈsnɑɹ.ki/

13

Scrabble Score

6

Letters

1

Syllables

6

Unique Chars

Meaning

adj

Snide and sarcastic; usually out of irritation.

Humorous; Informal

adj

Irritable, irritated.

Obsolete

Example Sentences

"In spite of its inherent banality, and because my editors let me relieve my dyspepsia by writing snarky captions, it is regularly one of the more popular destinations on the Globe and Mail website."
"'I hate you,' she said briefly, and Philip understood. 'I couldn't help it,' he said; 'I did want to do something by myself.' And Lucy understood. 'And besides,' he said, 'I was coming back for you. Don't be snarky about it, Lu."
"'E barks. "I'll do me work meself, yeh 'ear?" An' then 'e gits so snarky that I clear."

Etymology

From snark + -y; 1906, as “irritable”, from snark (“to snort”), by onomatopoeia (1866). Compare Low German snarken (“to snore”), North Frisian snarke, Swedish snarka. In the sense “sarcastic” popularized in the late 1990s.

Word Breakdown

Suffix: snark

Regional Pronunciation

American English: /ˈsnɑɹ.ki/
British English: /ˈsnɑː.ki/

Usage

Inflected Forms

snarkier (comparative) snarkiest (superlative)

Derived Forms

snarkcastic snark snarkily snarkiness snarkism

Synonyms

cranky sardonic

Rhymes With

khaki sparky sharkey malarkey arche parky barky sarky arkie darkey

Questions

How do you pronounce snarky?: The recorded pronunciation is /ˈsnɑɹ.ki/.
What does snarky mean?: Snide and sarcastic; usually out of irritation.
Where does snarky come from?: From snark + -y; 1906, as “irritable”, from snark (“to snort”), by onomatopoeia (1866). Compare Low German snarken (“to snore”), North Frisian snarke, Swedish snarka. In the sense “sarcastic” popularized in the late 1990s.

How to pronounce snarky

Open the pronunciation page — Open the Speakur entry for “snarky”.
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