Meaning & use
sardonic
Using dry, often bitter humor to show criticism or scorn.
See it in a sentence
When the printer jammed again, Jo gave it a sardonic smile and called it our most reliable machine.
The review's sardonic tone made its praise sound like an insult.
A note on using this word
Sardonic often describes a smile, remark, or tone. It suggests amused criticism, so it is more specific than simply unhappy or rude.
Words with a similar meaning
mockingscornful
Choose a synonym to suit the sentence. Meanings can overlap without being identical.
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