The Collaborative International Dictionary
Sardonic \Sar*don"ic\, a. [F. sardonique, L. sardonius, Gr. ?, ?, perhaps fr. ? to grin like a dog, or from a certain plant of Sardinia, Gr. ?, which was said to screw up the face of the eater.] Forced; unnatural; insincere; hence, derisive, mocking, malignant, or bitterly sarcastic; -- applied only to a laugh, smile, or some facial semblance of gayety.
Where strained, sardonic smiles are glozing still,
And grief is forced to laugh against her will.
--Sir H.
Wotton.
The scornful, ferocious, sardonic grin of a bloody
ruffian.
--Burke.
Sardonic grin or Sardonic laugh, an old medical term for a spasmodic affection of the muscles of the face, giving it an appearance of laughter.
Usage examples of "sardonic laugh".
He taxed the youth with shocking inhumanity, and shivered when only a sardonic laugh came in reply.
He blew out a short breath, in what might have been a sardonic laugh.
He did not look up, but upon the sand he saw a hideously horned profile of a head, black and monstrous, its jaws open in a sardonic laugh.
The brunette, who had kept Lodovic's attention during most of the drive, let out a sardonic laugh.
She uttered a sardonic laugh, turned on her heel, and returned to the storage area.
The brunette, who had kept Lodovics attention during most of the drive, let out a sardonic laugh.