sardonic
- characterized by bitter or scornful derision; mocking; cynical; sneering: a sardonic grin.
Origin of sardonic
Synonyms
See more synonyms for sardonic on Thesaurus.comExamples from the Web for sardonically
Contemporary Examples
The town, sardonically referred to by the locals as “Poisonville,” .
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 BreitbartBen 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.
Historical Examples
"A touching sight, sir," said he sardonically to the landlord.
The Tavern KnightRafael Sabatini
"Costaguana for the Costaguaneros," interjected the doctor, sardonically.
Nostromo: A Tale of the SeaboardJoseph Conrad
"I can see it makes you laugh," said Mrs. Goyte, sardonically.
Wintry PeacockD. H. Lawrence
They milled about him as he stood there, gazing down at them sardonically.
Beyond the Vanishing PointRaymond King Cummings
"Let me know when you have settled which it is to be," he said, sardonically.
A Study In ScarletArthur Conan Doyle
sardonic
- characterized by irony, mockery, or derision
Word Origin
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.