sardonic

Meaning

1. Scornfully mocking or cynical.
2. Disdainfully or ironically humorous.

Synonyms

sarcastic

cynical

mocking

satirical

scornful

sneering

tart

teasing

caustic

wry

ironic

Translations

sardonique

sardonisch

sardonico

sardónico

σαρδόνιος

sarcastique

sardônico

acı

sarcástico

sardónico

zynisch

patético

escarnificante

sardonisch

Pronounced as (IPA)

/sɑːˈdɒnɪk/

Etymology

From French sardonique, from Latin sardonius, from Ancient Greek σαρδόνιος (sardónios), alternative form of σαρδάνιος (sardánios, “bitter or scornful laughter”), which is often cited as deriving from the Sardinian plant (Ranunculus sardous or possibly Oenanthe crocata), known as either σαρδάνη (sardánē) or σαρδόνιον (sardónion). When eaten, it would cause the eater's face to contort in a look resembling scorn (generally followed by death). It might also be related to σαίρω (saírō, “I grin”). The related term sardoin, as gentilic, is ultimately derived from σάρδιον (sárdion) from Σάρδεις (Sárdeis), referring to Sardis in Lydia or Sart in Manisa, Turkey; other sources reference Sardonian from Σαρδόνιος (Sardónios, “from Sardinia”).