His sardonic humor often left his friends unsure whether to laugh or feel insulted.
synonyms
sarcasticcynicalscornful
word origin — The word 'sardonic' is derived from the French 'sardonique,' which comes from the Latin 'sardonicus,' meaning 'of Sardinia.' It refers to the infamous 'Sardinian plant' that was said to cause a grim expression on the face of those who consumed it.
SAT Vocabulary Level 3 — Set 192
Set 192 of SAT Vocabulary Level 3 covers 5 words: sardonic, satirical, phobic, querulous, celibate. Each entry below includes its definition, an example sentence, and synonyms — practice them with the interactive cards above.
sardonic · adjective/sɑrˈdɑnɪk/
grimly mocking or cynical
His sardonic humor often left his friends unsure whether to laugh or feel insulted.
Synonyms: sarcastic, cynical, scornful
Origin: The word 'sardonic' is derived from the French 'sardonique,' which comes from the Latin 'sardonicus,' meaning 'of Sardinia.' It refers to the infamous 'Sardinian plant' that was said to cause a grim expression on the face of those who consumed it.
satirical · adjective/səˈtɪrɪkəl/
mocking or ridiculing human vices or shortcomings often in a humorous way
The satirical film cleverly exposed the absurdities of modern politics, making the audience laugh while reflecting on serious issues.
Synonyms: ironic, sarcastic, mocking
Origin: The word 'satirical' originates from the Late Latin term 'satira,' meaning 'satire,' which is derived from the Greek 'satura,' meaning 'a medley' or 'a mixture.'
phobic · adjective/ˈfoʊ.bɪk/
having an extreme or irrational fear of a specific thing or situation
Many people who are claustrophobic feel intense anxiety when they are in small, enclosed spaces.
Synonyms: afraid, fearful, terrified
Origin: The word 'phobic' comes from the Greek 'phobos,' meaning 'fear' or 'terror.'
querulous · adjective/ˈkwɛr.əl.əs/
having a tendency to complain or argue in a whining manner
Despite the beautiful surroundings, her querulous tone about the accommodations made it hard to enjoy the trip.
Synonyms: complaining, whiny, petulant
Origin: from Latin 'querulus', meaning 'full of complaints', derived from 'queri', meaning 'to complain'
celibate · adjective/ˈsɛl.ɪ.bɪt/
chosen state of abstaining from marriage and sexual relations
After years of reflection, he chose to live a celibate life, dedicating himself to his spiritual practice.
Synonyms: unmarried, abstinent, chaste
Origin: from Latin 'coelibatus', meaning 'bachelorhood', from 'caelebs', meaning 'single' or 'unmarried'