adj · 3 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot
Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.
Sound
Pronunciation
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Received-Pronunciation:/sɑːˈdɒnɪk/
General-American:/sɑɹˈdɑnɪk/
US:Recorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.
Australian:/sɐːˈdɔnɪk/
Australia:Recorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.
rhymes with -ɒnɪk
CMU ARPABET:S AA0 R D AA1 N IH0 K
Digits mark lexical stress: 1 primary, 2 secondary, 0 unstressed.
1
adj
Meaning 1
Scornfully mocking or cynical.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Examples
He distances himself from people with his nasty, sardonic laughter.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: sneering, satirical
Antonyms: none provided
2
adj
Meaning 2
Disdainfully or ironically humorous.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: sarcastic
Antonyms: none provided
3
adjective satellite
Meaning 3
disdainfully or ironically humorous; scornful and mocking- Frank Schoenberner- Irwin Edman
Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0
Examples
his rebellion is the bitter, sardonic laughter of all great satirists
a wry pleasure to be...reminded of all that one is missing
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
History
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, “to 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”).
Across languages
Translations
51 source translations are retained for this English entry.
