: 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
Michael Sinkewicz, FOXNews.com, 15 Feb. 2026
There’s an absurdity and abstraction to the whole affair that affords us a peek into the minds and egos of those who run the modern world, not to mention some tongue-in-cheek disdain nestled within surprising sympathy.
—Siddhant Adlakha, Variety, 15 Feb. 2026
Andreas Wiseman, Deadline, 13 Feb. 2026
Shanahan, tongue in cheek, suggested the 49ers would never be involved in stealing signs.
—Jerry McDonald, Mercury News, 26 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for tongue-in-cheek
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Adjective
The Uxbridge Police Department in Massachusetts posted a tongue-in-cheek poem urging residents to get revenge by reporting exes with active warrants.
—Michael Sinkewicz, FOXNews.com, 15 Feb. 2026
There’s an absurdity and abstraction to the whole affair that affords us a peek into the minds and egos of those who run the modern world, not to mention some tongue-in-cheek disdain nestled within surprising sympathy.
—Siddhant Adlakha, Variety, 15 Feb. 2026
Adverb
It’s being conceived as a PG-13 with tongue in cheek, per the movie’s meta title.
—Andreas Wiseman, Deadline, 13 Feb. 2026
Shanahan, tongue in cheek, suggested the 49ers would never be involved in stealing signs.
—Jerry McDonald, Mercury News, 26 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for 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 17 Feb. 2026.
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