_Bank_ is a general term for the land along the edge of a water course; it may also denote a raised portion of the bed of a river, lake, or ocean; as, the _Banks_ of Newfoundland. A _beach_ is a strip or expanse of incoherent wave-worn sand, which is often pebbly or full of boulders; we speak of the _beach_ of a lake or ocean; a _beach_ is sometimes found in the bend of a river. _Strand_ is a more poetic term for a wave-washed shore, especially as a place for landing or embarking; as, the keel grates on the _strand_. The whole line of a country or continent that borders the sea is a _coast_. _Shore_ is any land, whether cliff, or sand, or marsh, bordering water. We do not speak of the _coast_ of a river, nor of the _banks_ of the ocean, tho there may be _banks_ by or under the sea. _Edge_ is the line where land and water meet; as, the water's _edge_. _Brink_ is the place from which one may fall; as, the river's _brink_; the _brink_ of a precipice; the _brink_ of ruin.
badinage, derision, jeering, raillery, sarcasm, chaff, irony, mockery, ridicule, satire.
_Banter_ is the touching upon some fault, weakness, or fancied secret of another in a way half to pique and half to please; _badinage_ is delicate, refined _banter_. _Raillery_ has more sharpness, but is usually good-humored and well meant. _Irony_, the saying one thing that the reverse may be understood, may be either mild or bitter. All the other words have a hostile intent. _Ridicule_ makes a person or thing the subject of contemptuous merriment; _derision_ seeks to make the object derided seem utterly despicable--to laugh it to scorn. _Chaff_ is the coarse witticism of the streets, perhaps merry, oftener malicious; _jeering_ is loud, rude _ridicule_, as of a hostile crowd or mob. _Mockery_ is more studied, and may include mimicry and personal violence, as well as scornful speech. A _satire_ is a formal composition; a _sarcasm_ may be an impromptu sentence. The _satire_ shows up follies to keep people from them; the _sarcasm_ hits them because they are foolish, without inquiring whether it will do good or harm; the _satire_ is plainly uttered; the _sarcasm_ is covert.
atrocious, brutal, merciless, uncivilized, barbarian, cruel, rude, uncouth, barbaric, inhuman, savage, untamed.