sardonic
Scornfully mocking or cynicalScornfully mocking or cynical.
» He holds a sardonic thought toward him.
Meaning
2 sensesScornfully mocking or cynical.
He distances himself from people with his nasty, sardonic laughter.
hämisch, mokant
сардони́ческийsardoníčeskij, язви́тельныйjazvítelʹnyj, ехи́дныйjexídnyj
сардоні́чнийsardoníčnyj
Disdainfully or ironically humorous.
bitter, sarkastisch, sardonisch
disdainfully or ironically humorous; scornful and mocking
Examples
3 sentencesHe holds a sardonic thought toward him.
Tom is always ready with a sardonic remark.
Tom's sardonic wit alienates a lot of people.
Translations
9 languagesBy meaning 1
By meaning 1
By meaning 2
Origin
From French sardonique, from Latin sardonius, from Ancient Greek σαρδόνιος (sardónios), alFrom French sardonique, from Latin sardonius, from Ancient Greek σαρδόνιος (sardónios), alternative form of σαρδάνιος (sardánios, “bitter or scornful laughter”), which is often cited as deriving from the Sardinian plant (Ranunculus sardous or possibly Oenanthe crocata), known as either σαρδάνη (sardánē) or σαρδόνιον (sardónion). When eaten, it would cause the eater's face to contort in a look resembling scorn (generally followed by death). It might also be related to σαίρω (saírō, “to grin”). The related term sardoin, as gentilic, is ultimately derived from σάρδιον (sárdion) from Σάρδεις (Sárdeis), referring to Sardis in Lydia or Sart in Manisa, Turkey; other sources reference Sardonian from Σαρδόνιος (Sardónios, “from Sardinia”).
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Forms
more sardonic, most sardonic| Comparative | more sardonic Lesson |
|---|---|
| Superlative | most sardonic Lesson |
regular
Synonyms
4 synonyms- disdainfully or ironically humorous; scornful and mocking:snarky
Word family
7 related wordsLessons for this word
2 lessons- A2Comparatives — Because it has a comparative form
- A2Superlatives — Because it has a superlative form