as in sarcastic
marked by the use of wit that is intended to cause hurt feelings
a sardonic little jab that made her visitor quiet and subdued for the rest of the night
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Recent Examples of sardonic
The sardonic clip sees Ford reluctantly trade in his signature leather jacket for a kilt and valiantly plug Glenmorangie while standing atop a hill.
—
Marissa G. Muller,
PEOPLE,
14 May 2026
Both Angela Ingersoll, who played the ever-hopeful Sally, and Michelle Duffy, as the cynical realist Phyllis, pulsed with vivacious energy, playing across from Rapp’s sardonic take on wound-tight Ben and Wallem’s deeply sad exploration of Buddy.
—
Chris Jones,
Chicago Tribune,
26 Apr. 2026
Stephanie Koenig as Poppy, a sardonic dating app regular who tries her luck with Sasha.
—
Joe Otterson,
Variety,
8 Apr. 2026
Ultimately, Latinos are reduced to side characters, save for Benicio del Toro's sardonic karate sensei.
—
Gustavo Arellano,
Houston Chronicle,
25 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for sardonic
Marissa G. Muller,
PEOPLE,
14 May 2026
Both Angela Ingersoll, who played the ever-hopeful Sally, and Michelle Duffy, as the cynical realist Phyllis, pulsed with vivacious energy, playing across from Rapp’s sardonic take on wound-tight Ben and Wallem’s deeply sad exploration of Buddy.
—
Chris Jones,
Chicago Tribune,
26 Apr. 2026
Stephanie Koenig as Poppy, a sardonic dating app regular who tries her luck with Sasha.
—
Joe Otterson,
Variety,
8 Apr. 2026
Ultimately, Latinos are reduced to side characters, save for Benicio del Toro's sardonic karate sensei.
—
Gustavo Arellano,
Houston Chronicle,
25 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for sardonic
Recent Examples of Synonyms for sardonic
Adjective
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Conversely, Charles Johnson expressed irate objections, and Renato Moicano offered sarcastic remarks.
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There’s the yellow, blue-nosed beaver Norb (Nick Bakay) — witty, sophisticated, sarcastic, and opinionated.
Adjective
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Since premiering in 2014, the satirical news program has earned 32 Emmy Awards, including program and writing wins for 10 consecutive years at the Primetime Emmy Awards, along with multiple Peabody, GLAAD, Writers Guild and Producers Guild honors.
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On Tuesday, protesters were asked to bring diapers and write demands for Pradhan’s resignation on them – a satirical swipe at the government’s inability to stop exam leaks, Dipke said.
Adjective
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The fence, as constructed, is more than 8 feet tall and is topped with a strand of barbed wire — too high for many animals to jump and dangerous for those that attempt to do so.
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Vines have grown through the fence and barbed wire surrounding a tall art deco building in this city’s downtown, and cigarette holders and empty food tins litter the tall weeds.
Adjective
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Some require extreme heat or highly acidic conditions.
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Blooming from late spring to summer and growing well in USDA Zones 7 to 11, gardenias prefer bright, indirect light, acidic, consistently moist soil, and regular feeding with an acidic fertilizer.
Cite this Entry
“Sardonic.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/sardonic. Accessed 1 Jul. 2026.
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