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 grinorlaugh, an old medical term for a spasmodic affection of the muscles of the face, giving it an appearance of laughter.