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sardonically

American  
[sahr-don-ik-lee] / sɑrˈdɒn ɪk li /

adverb

  1. in a way that is characterized by bitter or scornful derision; mockingly.

    She laughed and sardonically sang him a love song as she prepared to walk out of his life.


Other Word Forms

  • unsardonically adverb

Etymology

Origin of sardonically

sardonic ( def. ) + -ally ( def. )

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.

“The ones who aren’t creators or influencers see wearers as cringe,” Cohen said, sardonically summing up the general feeling of nonwearers as “Your life is not that cool, bro.”

From Slate • Feb. 12, 2026

His sardonically bouncy song “Vietnam,” from his self-titled album released in 1969, was said to have been Bob Dylan’s favorite antiwar song.

From The Wall Street Journal • Nov. 24, 2025

The inquiry’s own lead counsel asked sardonically whether she was “the unluckiest CEO in history”.

From BBC • Nov. 15, 2024

Thus came the thesis statement of Lavoe’s sardonically titled comeback album “Comedia”: the dark, confessional salsa piece “El Cantante,” in which Lavoe lamented the psychological cost of pop stardom.

From Los Angeles Times • Oct. 17, 2023

His voice sweetens sardonically ‘And we wouldn’t want that now, would we? Santa won’t be too impressed with that, will he now? No, he won’t.”

From "I Am the Messenger" by Markus Zusak