sardonic
Americanadjective
adjective
Other Word Forms
- sardonically adverb
- sardonicism noun
- unsardonic adjective
Etymology
Origin of sardonic
First recorded in 1630–40; alteration of earlier sardonian (influenced by French sardonique, ) from Latin sardoni(us) or directly from Greek sardónios “of Sardinia” + -an; alluding to a Sardinian plant which when eaten was supposed to produce convulsive laughter ending in death
Compare meaning
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
But not all his work is overtly political, with many having a comic, or sardonic, message about society.
From BBC
The answer, if you're interested, is 3.86kg, but it's typical of his sardonic humour, everything said with a straight face.
From BBC
Ms. Ziegler’s sardonic humor flickers or flares in virtually every scene.
The writing in that book is sardonic and lacerating, but it doesn’t dazzle for its own sake.
Conspicuous lip color can, after all, signify a million things — from class status to sardonic camp.
From Salon
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
