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GRE vocabulary

sardonic

adjectiveHigh-frequency wordMore S words

grimly mocking or cynically scornful

Word origin: From Greek sardonios, bitter or scornful laughter.

In a sentence

Sardonic in a sentence

Here are example sentences showing sardonic in a sentence.

He greeted the apology with a sardonic smile.

She met the apology with a sardonic smile that made clear how little she believed it.

Synonyms
mockingsneeringderisive
Antonyms
sincereearnest
Usage & nuance

Using “sardonic” well

Sardonic implies grimly mocking, cynical scorn, a bitterness sharper than ordinary sarcasm. It is darker than wry and more contemptuous than merely ironic.

Common questions

Questions about “sardonic

Sardonic (adjective) means grimly mocking or cynically scornful
Here is sardonic used in an example sentence: "He greeted the apology with a sardonic smile." Another example: "She met the apology with a sardonic smile that made clear how little she believed it."
Common synonyms for sardonic include mocking, sneering, derisive.
Antonyms of sardonic include sincere, earnest.
Clusters with mocking, sneering, and derisive in Sentence Equivalence. Its antonyms sincere and earnest mark the opposite, genuine pole.
Yes. Sardonic is a high-frequency GRE word, so it is worth prioritising as you build your vocabulary.

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