sardonic |
American Heritage Dictionary (1 definition)
- Scornfully or cynically mocking. See Synonyms at sarcastic.
–adjective
Century Dictionary (2 definitions)
- Bitterly ironical; sarcastic; derisive and malignant; sneering: now the usual meaning.
- Apparently but not really proceeding from gaiety; forced: said of a laugh or smile.
GNU Webster's 1913 (2 definitions)
- Forced; unnatural; insincere; hence, derisive, mocking, malignant, or bitterly sarcastic; -- applied only to a laugh, smile, or some facial semblance of gayety.
- Of, pertaining to, or resembling, a kind of linen made at Colchis.
–adjective
WordNet (1 definition)
Elsewhere on the web
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"sardonic" is related to a Greek word which means "to snarl," and a sardonic grin is merely a snarl.
I am not a member of the snark generation, but you are right to observe a certain sardonic tone in that last paragraph.
He raised his eyebrows in sardonic surprise; the muleteer must be a remarkable man, for this would be the fourth time he had graced Hulda's bed.
- [Bono laughs in sardonic tones] How do you face your own mortality?—Bono On Bono
- Again, he seemed to speak with a certain sardonic humor.—The Skrayling Tree
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Pronunciations
/ (sär-dŏnˈĭk)/
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Etymology
American Heritage Dictionary (1)
-
French sardonique, from Greek sardonios, alteration of sardanios.
Century Dictionary
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