Sardonic

/sɑːrˈdɑːnɪk/
adjective

Expressing mocking or scornful humor.

He gave a sardonic laugh when they suggested he could win the competition
Visual representation of "sardonic" - Expressing mocking or scornful humor

Often appears as...

  • sardonic smile
  • sardonic laugh

Usage tips

Disapproving

adjective

Expressing mocking or scornful humor.

He gave a sardonic laugh when they suggested he could win the competition
Visual representation of "sardonic" - Expressing mocking or scornful humor

Often appears as...

  • sardonic smile
  • sardonic laugh

Usage tips

Disapproving

Definition 1 of 1
Visual representation of "sardonic"
LampPro Tip 1/3

Often Negative

The word 'sardonic' usually implies disapproval or criticism, not genuine humor.

Illustration for Often Negative
Her sardonic comments about the play revealed her true feelings.
LampPro Tip 2/3

Subtle Mockery

Unlike outright insults, 'sardonic' can describe a more sophisticated, subtle form of mocking.

Illustration for Subtle Mockery
He flashed a sardonic grin when the singer hit a wrong note.
LampPro Tip 3/3

Not Amused

'Sardonic' laughter or smiles are not from amusement but from disdain or irony.

Illustration for Not Amused
She gave a sardonic chuckle at the proposal.
LampPro Tip 1/3

Often Negative

The word 'sardonic' usually implies disapproval or criticism, not genuine humor.

Illustration for Often Negative
Her sardonic comments about the play revealed her true feelings.
LampPro Tip 2/3

Subtle Mockery

Unlike outright insults, 'sardonic' can describe a more sophisticated, subtle form of mocking.

Illustration for Subtle Mockery
He flashed a sardonic grin when the singer hit a wrong note.
LampPro Tip 3/3

Not Amused

'Sardonic' laughter or smiles are not from amusement but from disdain or irony.

Illustration for Not Amused
She gave a sardonic chuckle at the proposal.
LampPro Tip 1/3

Often Negative

The word 'sardonic' usually implies disapproval or criticism, not genuine humor.

Illustration for Often Negative
Her sardonic comments about the play revealed her true feelings.
LampPro Tip 2/3

Subtle Mockery

Unlike outright insults, 'sardonic' can describe a more sophisticated, subtle form of mocking.

Illustration for Subtle Mockery
He flashed a sardonic grin when the singer hit a wrong note.
LampPro Tip 3/3

Not Amused

'Sardonic' laughter or smiles are not from amusement but from disdain or irony.

Illustration for Not Amused
She gave a sardonic chuckle at the proposal.
Visual representation of the word "Sardonic"

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Video examples

Iain Hutchison: Saving...

as we're trying to project ourselves to the world. Just remember that single acne spot that crippled you for several days. How long did you spend looking in the mirror every day, practicing your sardonic look, practicing your serious look, trying to look like Sean Connery, as I did,

Video examples

Iain Hutchison: Saving...

as we're trying to project ourselves to the world. Just remember that single acne spot that crippled you for several days. How long did you spend looking in the mirror every day, practicing your sardonic look, practicing your serious look, trying to look like Sean Connery, as I did,

Example 1 of 1

Quote examples

Stephen Merchant

English Writer

I just always remember there being an ability to amuse schoolmates. Not in a kind of 'dance-around-at-the-front-of-the-room-with-his-trousers-off' way, but probably with a sardonic quip. I remember getting a school report that said something like, 'Steve's good, but he tries to see the funny side in everything.
Portrait of Stephen Merchant

Quote examples

Sean Lock

English Comedian

There is this fallacy of the 'cool' comedian out there. You see the guys who take themselves very seriously and think they're being very suave and sardonic. But they're just jesters like the rest of us; they're just goons like we all are. The job is to make people laugh.
Portrait of Sean Lock

Quote examples

Tom Shales

American Writer

Why, on my mother's birthday, am I thinking about 'Father Knows Best?' At our house, mother knew best at least as often as father did, but then the title of the old sitcom, a homogenized portrait of American family life, was meant to be slightly sardonic.
Portrait of Tom Shales

Quote examples

Neil Patrick Harris

American Actor

I enjoy darker sardonic wit more than knock-knock jokes. I spent the first healthy chunk of my career playing all-American, pleasant, average, nice people, so it's fun to have some complications there.
Portrait of Neil Patrick Harris

Quote examples

Terry Eagleton

English Critic

Most students of literature can pick apart a metaphor or spot an ethnic stereotype, but not many of them can say things like: 'The poem's sardonic tone is curiously at odds with its plodding syntax.
Portrait of Terry Eagleton

Quote examples

Reid Scott

American Actor

Obviously, when I first came to the land of blond-haired, blue-eyed surfer types, I was the sardonic, sarcastic, liquor-swilling, chain-smoking, dark-haired, dark-eyed guy from New York.
Portrait of Reid Scott

Quote examples

Jason Schreier

Though many of Obsidian's games have featured wry, sardonic humor, the developer has stuck to more serious fantasy and sci-fi themes.
Portrait of Jason Schreier

Quote examples

Terence Young

British Director

Bond was how Fleming saw himself; the sardonic, cruel mouth, the hard, tight skinned face.
Portrait of Terence Young

Quote examples

Michael Azerrad

American Author

Nine Inch Nails' sound is dominated by clanging synths and sardonic, shrieking vocals.
Portrait of Michael Azerrad

Quote examples

W. Somerset Maugham

British Playwright

Money is the string with which a sardonic destiny directs the motions of its puppets.
Portrait of W. Somerset Maugham

Quote examples

Stephen Merchant

English Writer

I just always remember there being an ability to amuse schoolmates. Not in a kind of 'dance-around-at-the-front-of-the-room-with-his-trousers-off' way, but probably with a sardonic quip. I remember getting a school report that said something like, 'Steve's good, but he tries to see the funny side in everything.
Portrait of Stephen Merchant

Quote examples

Sean Lock

English Comedian

There is this fallacy of the 'cool' comedian out there. You see the guys who take themselves very seriously and think they're being very suave and sardonic. But they're just jesters like the rest of us; they're just goons like we all are. The job is to make people laugh.
Portrait of Sean Lock

Quote examples

Tom Shales

American Writer

Why, on my mother's birthday, am I thinking about 'Father Knows Best?' At our house, mother knew best at least as often as father did, but then the title of the old sitcom, a homogenized portrait of American family life, was meant to be slightly sardonic.
Portrait of Tom Shales

Quote examples

Neil Patrick Harris

American Actor

I enjoy darker sardonic wit more than knock-knock jokes. I spent the first healthy chunk of my career playing all-American, pleasant, average, nice people, so it's fun to have some complications there.
Portrait of Neil Patrick Harris

Quote examples

Terry Eagleton

English Critic

Most students of literature can pick apart a metaphor or spot an ethnic stereotype, but not many of them can say things like: 'The poem's sardonic tone is curiously at odds with its plodding syntax.
Portrait of Terry Eagleton

Quote examples

Reid Scott

American Actor

Obviously, when I first came to the land of blond-haired, blue-eyed surfer types, I was the sardonic, sarcastic, liquor-swilling, chain-smoking, dark-haired, dark-eyed guy from New York.
Portrait of Reid Scott

Quote examples

Jason Schreier

Though many of Obsidian's games have featured wry, sardonic humor, the developer has stuck to more serious fantasy and sci-fi themes.
Portrait of Jason Schreier

Quote examples

Terence Young

British Director

Bond was how Fleming saw himself; the sardonic, cruel mouth, the hard, tight skinned face.
Portrait of Terence Young

Quote examples

Michael Azerrad

American Author

Nine Inch Nails' sound is dominated by clanging synths and sardonic, shrieking vocals.
Portrait of Michael Azerrad

Quote examples

W. Somerset Maugham

British Playwright

Money is the string with which a sardonic destiny directs the motions of its puppets.
Portrait of W. Somerset Maugham
Example 1 of 10
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