sardonic
Americanadjective
adjective
Other Word Forms
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
How does sardonic compare to similar and commonly confused words? Explore the most common comparisons:
Explanation
If someone is being scornful and mocking in a humorous way, call her sardonic. If you want to write comic sketches for late-night talk shows, work on being sardonic. Sardonic comes from the Greek adjective Sardonios, which actually describes a plant from a place called Sardinia that supposedly made your face contort into a horrible grin...right before you died from its poison. The Greeks used sardonic for laughter, but we only use it when someone's humor is also mocking or ironic.
Vocabulary lists containing sardonic
The SAT: Words to Capture Tone, List 2
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The New SAT: Words to Capture Tone
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ACT Reading Test: Words to Capture Tone, List 4
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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.
Sardonic motivations aside, the unofficial Albertsons admins found themselves officially attached to — and offering comment on — the store’s actual movements.
From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 23, 2025
Describe her in three words Sardonic, self-effacing, right-on.
From The Guardian • Sep. 23, 2017
The year has barely woken up, but the prize for the Most Sardonic Film Title of 2016 has already been won.
From The New Yorker • Jan. 18, 2016
Sardonic irony is as critical to healthy child development as vitamins and tick-checks.
From Slate • Sep. 5, 2012
Sardonic of eye, caustic of tongue, Rupert himself attended to the carrying out of the request and watched the rescuing car depart on its mission.
From From the Car Behind by Flagg, James Montgomery
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.
