sardonic
4 synonyms for sardonic, grouped by meaning and by how common each one is.
Adjective — Scornfully mocking or cynical.
Synonyms
Less common
Still standard English, but they carry more weight.
Rare, literary or technical
Precise, but they will stand out — check the sense before using one.
Synonyms by Meaning
1. adjective
Scornfully mocking or cynical.
“He gave a sardonic laugh when he heard the excuse.”
2. adjective
Disdainfully or ironically humorous.
“He has a sardonic sense of humour that not everyone appreciates.”
How to use sardonic
The word patterns that sound natural to a native speaker.
Sardonic is a literary word, more common in writing than in casual speech.
Etymology
Sardonic reached English by way of French sardonique, which in turn derives from Latin sardonius; both ultimately go back to an Ancient Greek word for bitter or scornful laughter. That Greek word is often linked to a Sardinian plant said to twist the face of anyone who ate it into a scornful grin, usually followed by d...
Full origin of sardonic →