How to pronounce sardonic
American English pronunciation
sar-DON-ik
- IPA
- /sɑɹˈdɑnɪk/
- Syllables
- sar · DON · ik (3 syllables, stress on the 2nd)
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What sardonic means
Mocking in a dry, bitter way
In a sentence: He gave a sardonic laugh when the bus was late again.
Where it comes from: It comes from a Greek word for bitter, scornful laughter. That word is often said to be linked to a plant from Sardinia that made the face of anyone who ate it twist up.
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