sardonic tone
Biting, contemptuous delivery
A sardonic tone conveys bitter, mocking, or cynically humorous contempt.
It differs from simple sarcasm by carrying a darker edge—less playful, more world-weary or scornful.
Someone speaking in a sardonic tone seems to find grim amusement in human folly or misfortune: He observed the chaos with sardonic detachment.
The tone often signals someone who has seen too much to be surprised by anything.
- wryDryly mocking in tone
- tongue in cheekHumorously insincere manner
- mockingScornfully imitating or ridiculing
- cynicalDoubting human goodness
- bitingHarshly critical or cold
dry · bone dry · caustic · sneering · curled lip · ironic · bitter · acerbic · scathing · contemptuous · cutting · sarcastic · backhanded compliment · derisive · smirking · withering · raised eyebrow · eyebrow
- satirelampoon, parody, parody account, political satire, spoof
- wordplaypun, puns, punning, punny, punster
emotional warmth and sincerity
sardonic tonegentle tone
sardonic, sardonically, tone, tones, toned, toning, tonality, atonal, atonality