# Define: Snarky **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [November 30, 2004, 5:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/define-snarky/277356 "2004-11-30T17:50:24Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 17\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Morgainelf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/71e660/32.png) [@Morgainelf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Morgainelf)\ **Post date:** [November 30, 2004, 5:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/define-snarky/277356/1 "2004-11-30T17:50:24Z")
A friend suggested snide and jerky. How would you define Snarky? If you know the actual origin of the term, I would love to hear it! M’Elf ---
**Author:** ![CynicalGabe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/3e96dc/32.png) [@CynicalGabe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CynicalGabe)\ **Post date:** [November 30, 2004, 6:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/define-snarky/277356/2 "2004-11-30T18:08:01Z")
Cranky - crotchety - grouchy - snippy ---
**Author:** ![Kythereia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/e8c25b/32.png) [@Kythereia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kythereia)\ **Post date:** [November 30, 2004, 6:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/define-snarky/277356/3 "2004-11-30T18:09:04Z")
Same as above, but also with a huge dollop of snidery and sarcasm. ---
**Author:** ![Draelin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ce73a5/32.png) [@Draelin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Draelin)\ **Post date:** [November 30, 2004, 6:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/define-snarky/277356/4 "2004-11-30T18:12:05Z")
Cranky and sarcastic. Or just downright bitchy, but at least slightly amusing. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Earl\_Snake-Hips\_Tucker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/earl_snake-hips_tucker/32/3269_2.png) [@Earl\_Snake-Hips\_Tucker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Earl_Snake-Hips_Tucker)\ **Post date:** [November 30, 2004, 6:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/define-snarky/277356/5 "2004-11-30T18:14:24Z")
[http://www.word-detective.com/current.html](http://www.word-detective.com/current.html) ---
**Author:** ![TellMeI\_mNotCrazy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tellmei_mnotcrazy/32/3419_2.png) [@TellMeI\_mNotCrazy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TellMeI_mNotCrazy)\ **Post date:** [November 30, 2004, 6:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/define-snarky/277356/6 "2004-11-30T18:17:22Z")
> [@Earl Snake-Hips Tucker](#): > > [http://www.word-detective.com/current.html](http://www.word-detective.com/current.html) Cool, learn something new every day. I always just assumed it was a combination of snide and sarcastic. ---
**Author:** ![Morgainelf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/71e660/32.png) [@Morgainelf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Morgainelf)\ **Post date:** [November 30, 2004, 7:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/define-snarky/277356/7 "2004-11-30T19:23:01Z")
Thank you! Great website, ES-HT. ---
**Author:** ![Snarky\_Kong](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a183cd/32.png) [@Snarky\_Kong](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snarky_Kong)\ **Post date:** [November 30, 2004, 8:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/define-snarky/277356/8 "2004-11-30T20:06:14Z")
I’ve got nothing to add. I just felt like I needed to post in this thread. ---
**Author:** ![Happy\_Scrappy\_Hero\_Pup](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/ea5d25/32.png) [@Happy\_Scrappy\_Hero\_Pup](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Happy_Scrappy_Hero_Pup)\ **Post date:** [November 30, 2004, 8:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/define-snarky/277356/9 "2004-11-30T20:43:29Z")
Snarky. possessed of the characteristics of snark. Duh. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![vl\_mungo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/bc8723/32.png) [@vl\_mungo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/vl_mungo)\ **Post date:** [December 1, 2004, 12:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/define-snarky/277356/10 "2004-12-01T00:14:19Z")
> [@Happy Scrappy Hero Pup](#): > > Snarky. possessed of the characteristics of snark. > Duh. > 😉 Pfft… jerk. ---
**Author:** ![Regallag\_The\_Axe](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/regallag_the_axe/32/445_2.png) [@Regallag\_The\_Axe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Regallag_The_Axe)\ **Post date:** [December 1, 2004, 12:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/define-snarky/277356/11 "2004-12-01T00:18:43Z")
…mmm… snarky… ---
**Author:** ![Keapon\_Laffin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/e274bd/32.png) [@Keapon\_Laffin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Keapon_Laffin)\ **Post date:** [December 1, 2004, 12:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/define-snarky/277356/12 "2004-12-01T00:23:07Z")
I always thought it meant _uppity_. ---
**Author:** ![Scissorjack](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/c67d28/32.png) [@Scissorjack](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Scissorjack)\ **Post date:** [December 1, 2004, 11:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/define-snarky/277356/13 "2004-12-01T11:09:18Z")
It’s about half-way between snarly and sarcastic. ---
**Author:** ![Tracy\_Lord](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ec9cab/32.png) [@Tracy\_Lord](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tracy_Lord)\ **Post date:** [December 1, 2004, 12:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/define-snarky/277356/14 "2004-12-01T12:23:08Z")
> [@Morgainelf](#): > > A friend suggested snide and jerky. How would you define Snarky? Jon Stewart. ---
**Author:** ![Anastasaeon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/73ab20/32.png) [@Anastasaeon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Anastasaeon)\ **Post date:** [December 1, 2004, 12:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/define-snarky/277356/15 "2004-12-01T12:30:13Z")
Beef jerky with an _attitude_. The kind that makes you chew for hours and thinks it’s smarter than you. Man, I hate snarky. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Nava](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/da6949/32.png) [@Nava](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nava)\ **Post date:** [December 1, 2004, 2:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/define-snarky/277356/16 "2004-12-01T14:33:58Z")
Hmmmm… I have this boss who can really get on my nerves with the way he reacts to polite behavior. If this is British humor give me Terry Pratchett any day (actually, give me Pratchett in any case). I say “thank you”. He says “don’t be sarcastic, Flower” I say “my name is Nava, you know” He says “so? I’ve decided to call you Flower! It is a nice name, Flower! I don’t see what is your problem! Shees, what an attitude you have!” (no, it’s a skunk’s name and it is not my name! and you don’t look like Bambi, dude) Someone says “please”. He says “don’t you go being sweet to me!” Someone says “if you don’t mind”. He says “oh, now you care about what I want?” Q: does this guy qualify as snarky? Or did he just miss the one day in Kindergarten when they explained “please”, “thank you” and “you’re welcome”? ---
**Author:** ![TellMeI\_mNotCrazy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tellmei_mnotcrazy/32/3419_2.png) [@TellMeI\_mNotCrazy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TellMeI_mNotCrazy)\ **Post date:** [December 1, 2004, 3:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/define-snarky/277356/17 "2004-12-01T15:00:56Z")
> [@Nava](#): > > Hmmmm… > > I have this boss who can really get on my nerves with the way he reacts to polite behavior. If this is British humor give me Terry Pratchett any day (actually, give me Pratchett in any case). > > I say “thank you”. > He says “don’t be sarcastic, Flower” > I say “my name is Nava, you know” > He says “so? I’ve decided to call you Flower! It is a nice name, Flower! I don’t see what is your problem! Shees, what an attitude you have!” (no, it’s a skunk’s name and it is not my name! and you don’t look like Bambi, dude) > > Someone says “please”. > He says “don’t you go being sweet to me!” > > Someone says “if you don’t mind”. > He says “oh, now you care about what I want?” > Q: does this guy qualify as snarky? Or did he just miss the one day in Kindergarten when they explained “please”, “thank you” and “you’re welcome”? Nope, that’s just being an asshole.