sardonic

adjective

sar·​don·​ic sär-ˈdä-nik 

: disdainfully or skeptically humorous : derisively mocking

a sardonic comment

sardonically

sär-ˈdä-ni-k(ə-)lē 

adverb

Synonyms

• sarcastic
• satirical
• satiric
• barbed

Choose the Right Synonym for sardonic

sarcastic, satiric, ironic, sardonic mean marked by bitterness and a power or will to cut or sting.

sarcastic implies an intentional inflicting of pain by deriding, taunting, or ridiculing.

a critic known for his sarcastic remarks

satiric implies that the intent of the ridiculing is censure and reprobation.

a satiric look at contemporary society

ironic implies an attempt to be amusing or provocative by saying usually the opposite of what is meant.

made the ironic observation that the government could always be trusted

sardonic implies scorn, mockery, or derision that is manifested by either verbal or facial expression.

surveyed the scene with a sardonic smile

Examples of sardonic in a Sentence

"The Great War," used interchangeably with "the First World War" (so named in 1918 by a sardonic English journalist, who knew it would not be the last such conflict) … —Benjamin Schwarz, Atlantic, May 1999

They have that brand of sardonic humor special to people up against it: black and wry and shocking … —Doris Lessing, New Yorker, 16 Mar. 1987

In a story by Flaubert, this spreading of cloths to save the carpet would be observed with a sardonic eye; in Lawrence it is bleakly practical. —Hugh Kenner, A Sinking Island, 1987

The movie is a sardonic look at modern life.

a sardonic little jab that made her visitor quiet and subdued for the rest of the night

Recent Examples on the Web

Meanwhile, the sardonic and calculating Dennis (Sweeney), who, based on a pre-accident romantic encounter with Rocky, seems to have a twink fetish, ingratiates himself into Roman’s life with a master plan. —Ryan Lattanzio, IndieWire, 4 Sep. 2025

Lazarus is comfortable knowing that his sardonic smack-talking can only give Belichick, and the team, more motivational fodder for next season. —Sean Gregory, Time, 3 Sep. 2025

And an almost incidental scene, in which the NSA’s North Korea expert (Greta Lee) watches a Battle of Gettysburg reenactment with her son on a day off, seems a sardonic acknowledgment that war for America is a blustery display with little long-range vision. —David Rooney, HollywoodReporter, 2 Sep. 2025

In Moderation, Elaine Castillo’s sardonic new novel, Girlie Delmundo, the daughter of Filipino immigrants, works as a content moderator at a major tech company. —Sarah Rose Etter, The Atlantic, 6 Aug. 2025

Word History

Etymology

re-formation, with the suffix -ic entry 1, of earlier sardonian, from Greek sardónios, alteration (after Sardónios "Sardinian") of earlier sardánios "(of laughter or smiling) bitter, scornful" (of obscure origin) + -an entry 2

First Known Use

1638, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for sardonic

• atonic
• benthonic
• bionic
• bosonic
• bubonic
• canonic
• carbonic
• cyclonic
• demonic
• dystonic
• hadronic
• harmonic

Kids Definition

sardonic

adjective

sar·​don·​ic sär-ˈdän-ik 

: scornful, mocking

sardonically

-ˈdän-i-k(ə-)lē 

adverb