: characterized by insincerity, irony, or whimsical exaggeration
: with insincerity, irony, or whimsical exaggeration
Examples of tongue-in-cheek in a Sentence
Adverb
The whole interview was done tongue in cheek.
Recent Examples on the Web
Steven Kurutz, New York Times, 2 Apr. 2024
The Curb plot had previously prompted a not so tongue-in-cheek response from Jordan Fuchs, the deputy secretary of state in Georgia.
—Alex Weprin, The Hollywood Reporter, 2 Apr. 2024
The idea that his act could be a parody of the glad-handing, overly sincere entertainer rather than the thing itself fits both his strengths as an absurdist comic and the tongue-in-cheek times themselves.
—David Fear, Rolling Stone, 1 Apr. 2024
Since then, Mink has made numerous tongue-in-cheek cameos for other off-the-cuff directing talents as well, continuing her reign as a prime film outlaw.
—Daniel Scheffler, SPIN, 1 Apr. 2024
Its human elements are ahead of their time, satirizing mass media and advertising while bringing tongue-in-cheek meta-humor to the series decades before those themes came into fashion.
—Katie Rife, EW.com, 28 Mar. 2024
One of the driving forces behind his music is his sense of humor, from a tongue-in-cheek remake of a Frank Ocean lyric to interludes referencing Bushwick gay bar Mood Ring to lyrics that pull inspiration from jokes in anime.
—Vrinda Jagota, SPIN, 21 Mar. 2024
This particular criticism appears late in the film as a bit of tongue-in-cheek lamp shading, as though the movie were protecting itself, but this instinct towards self-preservation is part of its problem.
—Siddhant Adlakha, Variety, 18 Feb. 2024
The Packers would go on to defeat the Chiefs 27-19.
10 of 32
Fire Couple
For Halloween last year, the lovebirds got a little tongue-in-cheek with their costumes.
—Diane J. Cho, Peoplemag, 14 Mar. 2024
Mike Freeman, USA TODAY, 5 Feb. 2024
Some of the decor is a bit over the top and tongue in cheek, even veering into kitsch.
—Maggie Gillette, Better Homes & Gardens, 23 Jan. 2024
That track is kind of tongue in cheek: ooh, look, Blade Runner on top of jazz score!
—Julianne Escobedo Shepherd, Pitchfork, 16 Nov. 2023
With that in mind, The Courier Journal offers its annual breakdown of why each horse can and can’t win the Kentucky Derby — many serious, a few tongue in cheek, one destined to be right.
—Jason Frakes, The Courier-Journal, 3 May 2023
The Five Families, as they are called tongue in cheek, have waged a fierce battle for market share, buying out other hospitals and forging partnerships with health insurers.
—Jmanning, oregonlive, 17 Aug. 2023
The cast is diverse, and the story — while very much tongue in cheek — demonstrates how arts camps can be safe, welcoming spaces for kids.
—Common Sense Media, Washington Post, 21 July 2023
The name was intended to be tongue in cheek, a nod to our goal of making this newsletter feel like a community of readers learning together.
—Laura Newberry, Los Angeles Times, 13 June 2023
Watters often plays his role as provocateur with tongue in cheek and is prone to making outrageous statements.
—Stephen Battaglio, Los Angeles Times, 26 June 2023
Adjective
Image What started as a wilderness jest has by now morphed into something slightly less tongue-in-cheek.
—Steven Kurutz, New York Times, 2 Apr. 2024
The Curb plot had previously prompted a not so tongue-in-cheek response from Jordan Fuchs, the deputy secretary of state in Georgia.
—Alex Weprin, The Hollywood Reporter, 2 Apr. 2024
The idea that his act could be a parody of the glad-handing, overly sincere entertainer rather than the thing itself fits both his strengths as an absurdist comic and the tongue-in-cheek times themselves.
—David Fear, Rolling Stone, 1 Apr. 2024
Since then, Mink has made numerous tongue-in-cheek cameos for other off-the-cuff directing talents as well, continuing her reign as a prime film outlaw.
—Daniel Scheffler, SPIN, 1 Apr. 2024
Its human elements are ahead of their time, satirizing mass media and advertising while bringing tongue-in-cheek meta-humor to the series decades before those themes came into fashion.
—Katie Rife, EW.com, 28 Mar. 2024
One of the driving forces behind his music is his sense of humor, from a tongue-in-cheek remake of a Frank Ocean lyric to interludes referencing Bushwick gay bar Mood Ring to lyrics that pull inspiration from jokes in anime.
—Vrinda Jagota, SPIN, 21 Mar. 2024
This particular criticism appears late in the film as a bit of tongue-in-cheek lamp shading, as though the movie were protecting itself, but this instinct towards self-preservation is part of its problem.
—Siddhant Adlakha, Variety, 18 Feb. 2024
The Packers would go on to defeat the Chiefs 27-19.
10 of 32
Fire Couple
For Halloween last year, the lovebirds got a little tongue-in-cheek with their costumes.
—Diane J. Cho, Peoplemag, 14 Mar. 2024
Adverb
In fairness, some of it was tongue in cheek, but there was definitely an element of seriousness to it.
—Mike Freeman, USA TODAY, 5 Feb. 2024
Some of the decor is a bit over the top and tongue in cheek, even veering into kitsch.
—Maggie Gillette, Better Homes & Gardens, 23 Jan. 2024
That track is kind of tongue in cheek: ooh, look, Blade Runner on top of jazz score!
—Julianne Escobedo Shepherd, Pitchfork, 16 Nov. 2023
With that in mind, The Courier Journal offers its annual breakdown of why each horse can and can’t win the Kentucky Derby — many serious, a few tongue in cheek, one destined to be right.
—Jason Frakes, The Courier-Journal, 3 May 2023
The Five Families, as they are called tongue in cheek, have waged a fierce battle for market share, buying out other hospitals and forging partnerships with health insurers.
—Jmanning, oregonlive, 17 Aug. 2023
The cast is diverse, and the story — while very much tongue in cheek — demonstrates how arts camps can be safe, welcoming spaces for kids.
—Common Sense Media, Washington Post, 21 July 2023
The name was intended to be tongue in cheek, a nod to our goal of making this newsletter feel like a community of readers learning together.
—Laura Newberry, Los Angeles Times, 13 June 2023
Watters often plays his role as provocateur with tongue in cheek and is prone to making outrageous statements.
—Stephen Battaglio, Los Angeles Times, 26 June 2023
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'tongue-in-cheek.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Dictionary Entries Near tongue-in-cheek
Cite this Entry
“Tongue-in-cheek.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/tongue-in-cheek. Accessed 18 Apr. 2024.
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