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Literary notes about snarky (AI summary)

The term "snarky" is often used to convey a tone of sharp, sarcastic wit and sometimes a veneer of underlying disdain. In literature, it can mark a character's sudden shift toward acerbic humor or cynicism, as seen when someone’s demeanor becomes noticeably pointed [1] or when a private conversation reveals a tendency for biting commentary [2]. It may also appear in descriptions of interactions where the comment is surprisingly light-hearted or unexpectedly self-deprecating, suggesting a character’s reluctance to fully engage in criticism [3]. In other scenes, being snarky reflects not only a humorous deflection but also a stubborn refusal to reciprocate social niceties [4], or even highlights a reemergence of caustic commentary during moments of tension [5], while it sometimes comes hand in hand with a penchant for self-published witty criticism [6].
  1. An' then 'e gits so snarky that I clear.
    — from Digger Smith by C. J. (Clarence James) Dennis
  2. I say,” Luke leant forward confidentially across the rickety green tin table, “you know how snarky Pater was about him?
    — from Twos and Threes by G. B. (Gladys Bronwyn) Stern
  3. But she wasn't at all snarky about it, and agreed to let Robert go out for half an hour to get something he particularly wanted.
    — from Five Children and It by E. (Edith) Nesbit
  4. Keeps on bringing you nuts, and you’re so snarky that you won’t so much as give one back the shells.
    — from Cutlass and Cudgel by George Manville Fenn
  5. “Asked him why the people of the settlement pronounced his name ‘Belknap Hyphen Jackson,’ and that seemed to make him snarky again.
    — from Ruggles of Red Gap by Harry Leon Wilson
  6. “What Freddy wants is for me to send him mail that he can publish along with more snarky commentary.
    — from Makers by Cory Doctorow

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