sardonic
9
8.1
- adjective
- /sɑrˈdɑnɪk/
- His sardonic wit made the entire audience laugh, even in a serious discussion.
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Watch on YouTubeNow Cronin's book Nature's Metropolis is a sardonic reference to the use of anti nature.
- Now Cronin's book Nature's Metropolis is a sardonic reference to the use of anti nature.
- He was also rather, you know, sardonic guy in many respects.
- Everybody plays this sort of permanent game of sardonic tennis, right?
- I mean, we'll get into the details of just how sardonic this.
Examples
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In the room with us now were a sardonic Lester Crisp and a glowering Glaxia Fortinay.
Fiction book (1999) -
Like a knight on a quest, he told himself, with a sardonic shake of his head.
Fiction book (2001) -
"His mouth twisted into its most sardonic version of a smile.
Fiction book (1995) -
Everybody plays this sort of permanent game of sardonic tennis, right?
-
That sardonic advice would not soon be forgotten by Ditka or his players.
-
And when he ducked back under cover, there was a sardonic half-grin on his face.
Fiction book (1991) -
"A fan of the National Enquirer, are we?" he asked, cocking a sardonic eyebrow at her.
Fiction book (1995) -
Then, noticing the press secretary's sardonic expression, he abruptly changed his order to a beer.
Fiction book (1998) -
And I still see the smile, obliging but tinged with sardonic humor and irony, that came to his face.
Fiction book (2001) -
Roger didn't stir; his eyes remained closed, his mouth curved in a sardonic grin.
Fiction book (1999)
Synonyms
95
4.0
Using words that say the opposite of what you mean to mock or hurt someone
38
4.8
Saying the opposite of what you mean to be funny or mocking
34
7.9
Being rude in a clever, mocking way
18
7.5
Showing dry, slightly mocking humor and not taking things seriously
14
6.4
Saying the opposite of what you mean to be funny or mocking
10
7.4
Said jokingly and not meant to be taken seriously
3
6.5
Using humor to show and criticize people's foolish or bad actions
1
9.9
To say mocking or rude things to tease someone
Antonyms
How Mocking
Surface Forms
Morphology
sardonic = sardon + ic
Although formed with the adjective-forming suffix '-ic', the stem 'sardon' is not a productive or recognizable English base and the meaning 'mocking, scornful' cannot be derived by learners from the components.
Etymology
The word sardonic comes from the Greek word sárdōnē, which meant 'bitter'. One old story says a plant on Sardinia made people die with a fixed, bitter 'grin', so sardonic now describes a mocking or cruel kind of smile or remark.