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.
Tessa makes for a captivating protagonist, one who is resourceful and resilient, sardonic and defiant: “A live wire, always throwing off sparks,” in the words of one character.
From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 17, 2026
Conspicuous lip color can, after all, signify a million things — from class status to sardonic camp.
From Salon • Feb. 19, 2026
Hoy goes over to check in with Sir Andy Murray about his readiness and is met with a typical sardonic quip from his fellow Scot.
From BBC • Dec. 18, 2025
Irritable, neurotic, decent, confused and sardonic, Larry is a refreshing nod to the kind of spiky haplessness Jack Lemmon mastered.
From Los Angeles Times • Nov. 25, 2025
"Thank you," Ser Jaremy replied with a sardonic smile.
From "A Game of Thrones" by George R.R. Martin
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.
