Sardonic
[sɑː'dɒnɪk] or [sɑr'dɑnɪk]
Definition
(adj.) 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 .
Checked by Karol--From WordNet
Definition
(a.) Forced; unnatural; insincere; hence, derisive, mocking, malignant, or bitterly sarcastic; -- applied only to a laugh, smile, or some facial semblance of gayety.
(a.) Of, pertaining to, or resembling, a kind of linen made at Colchis.
Editor: Shanna
Definition
adj. forced heartless or bitter said of a forced unmirthful laugh—(obs.) Sardō′nian.—adv. Sardon′ically.
Edited by Darrell
Examples
- His betrothed looked shocked at the metaphor, and George Dorset exclaimed with a sardonic growl: Poor devil! Edith Wharton. The House of Mirth.
- His face flickered with sardonic comprehension. D. H. Lawrence. Women in Love .
- The wounded, sardonic young man moved away, ignoring his bleeding hand in the most conspicuous fashion. D. H. Lawrence. Women in Love .
- One of them turned toward me with a sardonic smile upon his thin, cruel lips--it was Zat Arras. Edgar Rice Burroughs. The Gods of Mars.
- The young man stood looking down at her with sardonic contempt, a cowed, self-conscious look on his thick, pale face. D. H. Lawrence. Women in Love .
- Mr. Sillerton Jackson stretched his ankles nearer the coals and emitted a sardonic whistle. Edith Wharton. The Age of Innocence.
- Go on, sir, he said, with sardonic gravity. Wilkie Collins. The Moonstone.
- Gerald looked with a long, twinkling, almost sardonic look into the eyes of the other man. D. H. Lawrence. Women in Love .
- Take it as a rule, this sardonic old Eaves would say, the fathers and elder sons of all great families hate each other. William Makepeace Thackeray. Vanity Fair.
- He was looking at me gravely and intently: at me, or rather at my pink dress--sardonic comment on which gleamed in his eye. Charlotte Bronte. Villette.
- She watched us with a sardonic eye as we stepped from the brougham. Arthur Conan Doyle. The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes.
- Gudrun, who was usually frightened of cattle, now shook her head in a queer, half-doubtful, half-sardonic motion, a faint smile round her mouth. D. H. Lawrence. Women in Love .
- Their eyes met; and they exchanged a sardonic understanding. D. H. Lawrence. Women in Love .
Edited by Darrell