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 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
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Reactions to the freestyle depended on whether or not you were tuned into its sarcastic frequency.—
Jeff Ihaza,
Rolling Stone,
30 Oct. 2025
Adjective
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Perhaps the biggest pop culture development regarding Cheney's life, however, came in 2018, when Adam McKay helmed the satirical biographical film Vice using inspiration from the political figure and those around him.—
Joey Nolfi,
Entertainment Weekly,
4 Nov. 2025
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Girl Dinner is a satirical novel about a college sophomore, Nina, and professor, Sloane, who become involved with an infamous sorority known as The House.—
Carly Tagen-Dye,
PEOPLE,
30 Oct. 2025
Adjective
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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
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The actress is clearly relishing the opportunity to deliver Aaron Sorkin’s barbed dialogue (though perhaps not as much as Philip Seymour Hoffman, who steals the show as an explosive CIA functionary).—
Bilge Ebiri,
Vulture,
10 Oct. 2025
Adjective
-
Swap apple cider vinegar for red wine vinegar, white wine vinegar, or lemon juice for a different acidic punch.—
Kimberly Holland,
Southern Living,
3 Nov. 2025
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But in cheeses with a pH of 5 or lower (more acidic), no virus was found.—
Pranjal Malewar,
New Atlas,
3 Nov. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Sardonic.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/sardonic. Accessed 6 Nov. 2025.
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