Added 2 October 2026
sardonic
/sɑːˈdɒnɪk/ adjective
Latin root: sardonius Wiktionary
adjective Definition from Wiktionary (CC BY-SA). Pronunciation from Wiktionary, via Kaikki.org. More about sardonic at Wordnik → Where our words come from →
-
Scornfully mocking or cynical.
He distances himself from people with his nasty, sardonic laughter.
- Disdainfully or ironically humorous.
Origin
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, “to grin”).
From Wiktionary, via Kaikki.org (CC BY-SA)