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
However, her inner voice reveals a sardonic sense of humor, cunning intellect, and keen eye for details most people would miss…because Emily has a big secret.
—
Rebecca Angel Baer, Southern Living, 17 Sep. 2025
Vonnegut adopted the idea as inspiration for his sardonic 1963 novel Cat’s Cradle.
—Thomas Moynihan, Big Think, 15 Sep. 2025
The latest film comes nearly 15 years after viewers were first introduced to the British show's parade of posh characters like Robert Crawley (Hugh Bonneville), Lady Mary (Michelle Dockery), and the sardonic Dowager Countess (Maggie Smith).
—Christopher Rudolph, PEOPLE, 15 Sep. 2025
Dockery remembers Smith’s wit and sardonic humor on set—and her own Dowagerisms—fondly.
—Anna Cafolla, Vogue, 11 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for sardonic
Rebecca Angel Baer, Southern Living, 17 Sep. 2025
Vonnegut adopted the idea as inspiration for his sardonic 1963 novel Cat’s Cradle.
—Thomas Moynihan, Big Think, 15 Sep. 2025
The latest film comes nearly 15 years after viewers were first introduced to the British show's parade of posh characters like Robert Crawley (Hugh Bonneville), Lady Mary (Michelle Dockery), and the sardonic Dowager Countess (Maggie Smith).
—Christopher Rudolph, PEOPLE, 15 Sep. 2025
Dockery remembers Smith’s wit and sardonic humor on set—and her own Dowagerisms—fondly.
—Anna Cafolla, Vogue, 11 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for sardonic
Recent Examples of Synonyms for sardonic
Adjective
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The Marriage Story star first appeared as a child in an uncredited role in the Scorsese film — Ladd's first taste of major acclaim as the sarcastic waitress Flo.—
Ryan Coleman,
Entertainment Weekly,
3 Nov. 2025
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The kicking game was so bad that Freeman sounded like Brian Kelly at his sarcastic best when asked about Noah Burnette, Erik Schmidt and Marcello Diomede combining to miss two extra points and one field goal.—
Pete Sampson,
New York Times,
2 Nov. 2025
Adjective
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Since that inaugural episode in late July, a steady stream of blistering satirical installments has not let up on the POTUS and key White House officials, from VP JD Vance to DHS Secretary Kristi Noem.—
Natalie Oganesyan,
Deadline,
10 Nov. 2025
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Where Tom is the satirical end point of corporate America’s moral rot, Guiteau is like his spiritual predecessor, a 19th-century American striver so intoxicated by the promise of self-making that rejection feels like cosmic betrayal.—
Nicholas Quah,
Vulture,
7 Nov. 2025
Adjective
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Chinese reports stated that the attack-type wolf robots cleared barbed wire and trenches in three to five minutes, while the transport variants followed closely behind.—
Kapil Kajal,
Interesting Engineering,
5 Nov. 2025
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In the yard, decorations include nooses, hanging bodies, guards in towers and barbed wire fences.—
Colson Thayer,
PEOPLE,
27 Oct. 2025
Adjective
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Highly acidic foods like pickles and tomatoes will react with the can after an extended period of time, causing both taste and texture changes so pay particularly close attention to expiration dates on these items.—
Patricia Shannon,
Southern Living,
11 Nov. 2025
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Soil and Water Japanese maple likes a slightly acidic, humus-rich soil with good drainage.—
Luke Miller,
Better Homes & Gardens,
6 Nov. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Sardonic.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/sardonic. Accessed 14 Nov. 2025.
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