Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for April 3, 2025 is snark, an informal word referring to an attitude or expression of mocking irreverence and sarcasm. The word is often used to describe a tone or manner that is sarcastic, impertinent, or irreverent. The stand-up comedian's set was full of snark about current events, which had the audience rolling in the aisles. The word snark is a back-formation from the longer word snarky, which emerged in English around the turn of the 20th century. Initially, snarky meant "snappish, crotchety," but later took on the sense of "sarcastic, impertinent, or irreverent in tone or manner." The noun snark is a more recent addition to the language, arising in the 1990s. It was preceded by the verb snark, which dates to the late 1980s and means to make an irreverent or sarcastic comment. Lewis Carroll is often credited with coining the word snark, based on his poem with this word in the title, written in the 1870s. However, the modern snark is a distinct concept that developed later. The word snark is often used in contexts such as comedy and satire, where mocking irreverence and sarcasm are used to make a point or entertain.