characterized by bitter or scornful derision; mocking; sneering; cynical; a sardonic grin.
Origin of sardonic
First recorded in 1630–40; alteration of earlier sardonian (influenced by French sardonique, ) from Latin sardoni(us) or directly from Greek sardónios “of Sardinia” + -an; alluding to a Sardinian plant which when eaten was supposed to produce convulsive laughter ending in death
“Louie has a typical day”—that's the log line, sardonic and perfect.
Why Is Louis C.K. So Funny? He Uses Humor as a Moral Compass.|Andrew Romano|May 2, 2014|DAILY BEAST
A pantomime horse plays a role, as does a sardonic hand puppet.
‘Family Tree’ Brings Christopher Guest’s Mockumentary Style to HBO|Jace Lacob|May 8, 2013|DAILY BEAST
Ebert was celebrated for the sardonic wit and democratic writing style he employed in his reviews.
Roger Ebert, 70, Has Died: A Look at the Life of Cinema’s Great Appreciator|Marlow Stern|April 4, 2013|DAILY BEAST
Alan Arkin also provides an award-worthy turn as Lester Siegel, a sardonic, over-the-hill movie mogul who helps in the mission.
Telluride Film Festival Kicks Off Oscar Season: Bill Murray, Ben Affleck & More|Marlow Stern|September 4, 2012|DAILY BEAST
This is Cheever on Xanax, or maybe lithium, but the voice is still there; sardonic, hilarious, and very much of our time.
Must Reads: Kennedy, Sontag and Paris, ‘A Partial History of Lost Causes,’ ‘City of Bohane,’ ‘Flatscreen’|Lauren Elkin, Mythili Rao, Drew Toal, Nicholas Mancusi|April 6, 2012|DAILY BEAST
She looked at him with a sardonic smile, plucking a pink wad from the lid of a box of sweetmeats beside her.
Atlantis|Gerhart Hauptmann
The face of Jesuit Morlet was still, as always, calm and sardonic; he wore a carmagnole jacket and red bonnet.
The Sword of Honor, volumes 1 & 2|Eugne Sue
"You'll have to catch her first," replied Dr. Bird, a sardonic grin on his face.
The Great Drought|Sterner St. Paul Meek
The supper proving satisfactory, she felt at liberty to indulge her one social gift of a sardonic humour.
Second String|Anthony Hope
And his answer, given with a sudden smile from out of the sardonic redness of his beard: "Id is an Ardt!"
The Complete Essays of John Galsworthy|John Galsworthy
British Dictionary definitions for sardonic
sardonic
/ (sɑːˈdɒnɪk) /
adjective
characterized by irony, mockery, or derision
Derived forms of sardonic
sardonically, adverbsardonicism, noun
Word Origin for sardonic
C17: from French sardonique, from Latin sardonius, from Greek sardonios derisive, literally: of Sardinia, alteration of Homeric sardanios scornful (laughter or smile)