Today's Word "sardonic"
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Published in Vocabulary
sardonic \sahr-DAH-nik\ (adjective) - Disdainful or cynically derisive, especially in facial or verbal expression.
"Sean's marriage proposal received nothing but a sardonic smile from Janice."
From Greek sardanios "scornful (smiles or laughter)" from "sardane," a Sardinian plant (Sardinian crowfoot, Ranunculus Sardous) which causes grimacing when eaten. Later Greek authors wrote "sardonios" (from Sardo "Sardinia") which the French borrowed as "sardonique," whence the English word.