sardonic

[sahr-don-ik]

adjective

characterized by bitter or scornful derision; mocking; cynical; sneering: a sardonic grin.

Origin of sardonic

1630–40; alteration of earlier sardonian (influenced by French sardonique) < Latin sardoni(us) (< Greek sardónios of Sardinia) + -an; alluding to a Sardinian plant which when eaten was supposed to produce convulsive laughter ending in death

Related formssar·don·i·cal·ly, adverbsar·don·i·cism, nounun·sar·don·ic, adjectiveun·sar·don·i·cal·ly, adverb

Synonyms for sardonic

biting, mordant, contemptuous.

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018

Examples from the Web for sardonically

Contemporary Examples of sardonically

The town, sardonically referred to by the locals as “Poisonville,” .
The Man With Stories to Tell
Allen Barra
December 8, 2013
The room of conservatives did, along with one of the Times reporters, who loudly and sardonically lifted his glass “To Andrew.”
At Bars Nationwide, Conservatives Raise a Glass to Andrew Breitbart
Ben Jacobs, Laura Isensee
March 2, 2013
“Welcome to Egypt,” said a youth to me, sardonically, and pointed to the group of handcuffed people around me.
My 36 Hours in Egyptian Captivity
Daniel Williams
February 7, 2011

Historical Examples of sardonically

"A touching sight, sir," said he sardonically to the landlord.
The Tavern Knight
Rafael Sabatini
"Costaguana for the Costaguaneros," interjected the doctor, sardonically.
Nostromo: A Tale of the Seaboard
Joseph Conrad
"I can see it makes you laugh," said Mrs. Goyte, sardonically.
Wintry Peacock
D. H. Lawrence
They milled about him as he stood there, gazing down at them sardonically.
Beyond the Vanishing Point
Raymond King Cummings
"Let me know when you have settled which it is to be," he said, sardonically.
A Study In Scarlet
Arthur Conan Doyle

British Dictionary definitions for sardonically

sardonic

adjective

characterized by irony, mockery, or derision

Derived Formssardonically, adverbsardonicism, noun

Word Origin for sardonic

C17: from French sardonique, from Latin sardonius, from Greek sardonios derisive, literally: of Sardinia, alteration of Homeric sardanios scornful (laughter or smile)

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Word Origin and History for sardonically

sardonic

adj.

"apparently but not really proceeding from gaiety," 1630s, from French sardonique (16c.), from Latin sardonius (but as if from Latin *sardonicus) in Sardonius risus, loan-translation of Greek sardonios (gelos) "of bitter or scornful (laughter)," altered from Homeric sardanios (of uncertain origin) by influence of Sardonios "Sardinian," because the Greeks believed that eating a certain plant they called sardonion (literally "plant from Sardinia," see Sardinia) caused facial convulsions resembling those of sardonic laughter, usually followed by death. For nuances of usage, see humor. Earlier in same sense sardonian (1580s), from Latin sardonius. Related: Sardonically.