snarky
adjUS /ˈsnɑɹ.ki/ · UK /ˈsnɑː.ki/
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.
- 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.2011 October 19, “You may know me as a snarky caption writer whose work went viral”, in The Guardian:
2
Obsolete Irritable, irritated.
- '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.1910, E. Nesbit, chapter 12, in The Magic City:
- 'E barks. "I'll do me work meself, yeh 'ear?" An' then 'e gits so snarky that I clear.1918, C. J. Dennis, “Dad”, in Digger Smith:
- Derived terms
- snarkcastic, snark, snarkily, snarkiness, snarkism