What does sardonic mean?
Word: Sardonic
Part of Speech: Adjective
Meaning: Sardonic means amused in a dry, mocking way, as if nothing deserves to be taken seriously.
Synonyms: mocking
How do you spell sardonic?
Syllables: sar - don - ic
Tricky part: Pupils think of sardine, or simply guess, and write the wrong vowel straight after the d.
Watch out for: sardinic, sardanic, sardenic
Memory tip: A sardonic reply often means don't bother, so let the don of don't remind you of the middle of the word.
Sardonic in a sentence
Example 1: Mia's sardonic humour made the whole staffroom smile.
Example 2: The old cricket coach has a sardonic way of saying well done after a dropped catch.
Example 3: Even his sardonic grin could not hide how pleased he was with the prize.
Fun Fact
The word traces back to Greek sardonios, which is often linked with the island of Sardinia, though how the island came into it is still debated.
Practise the CREST Way
Spell-o-Spell
Only one word in the list is misspelt. Choose the meaning of that word.
1. flippant 2. pensive 3. laconic 4. sardonnic
a) using very few words
b) speaking as if the whole thing were a private joke
c) not showing enough seriousness
d) deep in quiet thought
Show answer
b) speaking as if the whole thing were a private joke. A stray n has crept in; flippant, pensive and laconic are all spelt as they should be.
Word Cookie
Insert the correct pair of letters to form a word:
s_rdon_c
a) a, i
b) a, e
c) e, i
d) o, i
Show answer
a) a, i. The opening sounds like the a of car, and the ending is the one in comic.
Mingle-Mangle
Unjumble the word in the sentence and choose it:
Uncle Farid raised one eyebrow and gave a cnaoidsr smile when told the train was on time.
a) strategic
b) sardonic
c) sporadic
d) sonorous
Show answer
b) sardonic. An n and an o appear in the jumble but no t, p or u, and that leaves one choice.
Word Connection
Choose the antonym of the word sardonic as used in the sentence:
My sister's sardonic reply told me exactly what she thought of my new haircut.
a) sincere
b) scornful
c) cynical
d) sneering
Show answer
a) sincere. Scornful, cynical and sneering all share the word's cool tone; sincere means honest and heartfelt.
Multiple Choice Questions
1. Which remark sounds most like a sardonic comment on a rained-off match?
a) I hope the sun returns by noon.
b) Rain always helps the farmers here.
c) Lovely weather we chose for cricket.
d) We can play again next Sunday.
Show answer
c) Lovely weather we chose for cricket.
2. A critic gives a film a sardonic review. How does the writing come across?
a) quietly scornful and hard to please
b) anxious and rather unsure of itself
c) plain, factual and free of opinion
d) warmly grateful and full of praise
Show answer
a) quietly scornful and hard to please
