sardonic Meaning, Definition & Usage

  1. adjective satellite disdainfully or ironically humorous; scornful and mocking
    • his rebellion is the bitter, sardonic laughter of all great satirists"- Frank Schoenberner
    • a wry pleasure to be...reminded of all that one is missing"- Irwin Edman

WordNet

Sar*don"ic adjective
Etymology
F. sardonique, L. sardonius, Gr. , , perhaps fr. to grin like a dog, or from a certain plant of Sardinia, Gr. , which was said to screw up the face of the eater.
Definitions
  1. Forced; unnatural; insincere; hence, derisive, mocking, malignant, or bitterly sarcastic; -- applied only to a laugh, smile, or some facial semblance of gayety.
    Where strained, sardonic smiles are glozing still, And grief is forced to laugh against her will. Sir H. Wotton.
    The scornful, ferocious, sardonic grin of a bloody ruffian. Burke.
Sar*don"ic adjective
Definitions
  1. Of, pertaining to, or resembling, a kind of linen made at Colchis.

Webster 1913