Which adjective best describes a deliberately teasing sense of humor?

Which adjective best describes a deliberately teasing sense of humor?

• A. Curmudgeon
• B. Bilious
• C. Parvenu
• D. Arch

Answer: (D)

Arch humor is sly, knowing, and deliberately teasing—playful in a way that invites a reader to catch the joke. It conveys a coy, artful wit that isn’t mean-spirited but rather clever and a tad theatrical. The idea is to tease on purpose, with a tone that feels intentionally coy or mockingly subtle. Curmudgeon describes a sour, ill-tempered person; bilious points to bitterness or bile; parvenu refers to a social climber who recently gained status. Because arch uniquely signals a teasing, calculating wit, it fits the definition best.

Arch humor is sly, knowing, and deliberately teasing—playful in a way that invites a reader to catch the joke. It conveys a coy, artful wit that isn’t mean-spirited but rather clever and a tad theatrical. The idea is to tease on purpose, with a tone that feels intentionally coy or mockingly subtle. Curmudgeon describes a sour, ill-tempered person; bilious points to bitterness or bile; parvenu refers to a social climber who recently gained status. Because arch uniquely signals a teasing, calculating wit, it fits the definition best.