Cynicism--The rhetoric used to make negative statements about some part of humanity. It may use irony and become sarcastic, but it does not have to.
As defined by Wikipedia: Presently the word generally describes, somewhat pejoratively, the opinions of those inclined to disbelieve in human sincerity, in virtue, or in altruism: individuals who maintain that only self-interest motivates human behavior.
Example of cynicism that is not sarcastic:
“It could in theory be possible for humans to donate money to outer causes; but that would involve them caring about something other than food and sex.”
Sarcastic cynicism:
“Of course I’ll join the organization! What, with the thievery, truth-spinning, manipulation, selfish conceit…what’s there not to like?” Heckling—Constant, gratuitous mockery.
As defined by Wikipedia: [shouting] an uninvited comment, usually disparaging, at a performance or event, or interrupting set-piece speeches, for example at a political meeting.
Example of non-sarcastic heckling:
“You haven’t beaten the boss yet? What is taking you so long? I beat the boss the day I got the game. Is that a first-level sword? You know how cheap they are, right? I hope you plan on doing more than running in circles.”
Example of sarcastic heckling:
“Oh, don’t worry, there’s no way they’ll notice you with green hair at the wedding. I mean it’s only going to be held in a stone church; not like you’ll draw any attention. In fact, they’ll probably bump into you because you’ll be so invisible that you’ll blend in.” Verbal Irony/Irony—A description of something that is the opposite of that thing’s literal connotation. It is the type of rhetoric that is often used in sarcasm, but it is not sarcasm itself, nor is it necessary in sarcasm.
As defined by Wikipedia: a figure of speech (more precisely called verbal irony) in which there is a gap or incongruity between what a speaker or a writer says, and what is understood. All the different senses of irony, however, revolve around the notion of incongruity, or a gap between our understanding and what actually happens.
the type of rhetoric that is used within sarcasm.
An example of verbal irony that is not used in sarcasm:
[in one's messy room, one smiles all around to make the joke on oneself and says] "I'm not messy."
An example of sarcasm that is not ironic:
“No, Mrs. Anderson, as much as I try, I simply cannot be in two places at one time!”
Irony in general occurs when a situation contains incongruity, such as a scene of a Shakespearean play when the audience knows something that the characters do not.
Example: Romeo drinks poison out of sadness for Juliet’s death, not knowing that she is only unconscious. Paradox—A statement or idea that contradicts itself
As defined by Wikipedia: an apparently true statement or group of statements that seems to lead to a contradiction or to a situation that defies intuition. Typically, either the statements in question do not really imply the contradiction, the puzzling result is not really a contradiction, or the premises themselves are not all really true or cannot all be true together.
Example:
“Today is opposite day!”
OR
The statement that Jesus was both fully man and fully God. Oxymoron—A phrase in which the words have opposite connotations.
As defined by Wikipedia: figure of speech that combines two normally contradictory terms (e.g. "deafening silence").
Example:
There is a cruel gentleness in love.
A loud silence hit her when she asked the question to the class. Satire—A piece of art which means to mock its subject. A satire can be sarcastic, as in the case of Animal Farm, or it can be outright direct, as in the case of 1984.
As defined by Wikipedia: literary technique of writing or art which exposes the follies of its subject (for example, individuals, organizations, or states) to ridicule, often as an intended means of provoking or preventing change.
Example of a sarcastic satire—Animal Farm
Example of a non-sarcastic satire—1984