different between quizzical vs sardonic

English

Etymology

quiz +? -ical

Adjective

quizzical (comparative more quizzical, superlative most quizzical)

1. Questioning or suggesting puzzlement.
2. Strange or eccentric.
3. Jocose; humorous.

Synonyms

• quizzish (archaic)

English

Etymology

From French sardonique, from Latin sardonius, from Ancient Greek ????????? (sardónios), alternative form of ????????? (sardánios, “bitter or scornful laughter”), which is often cited as deriving from the Sardinian plant (Ranunculus sardous), known as either ??????? (sardán?) or ????????? (sardónion). When eaten, it would cause the eater's face to contort in a look resembling scorn (generally followed by death). It might also be related to ????? (saír?, “I grin”).

Pronunciation

• (General Australian) IPA^(key): /sa??d?n?k/
• (Received Pronunciation) IPA^(key): /s???d?n?k/
• (US) IPA^(key): /s???d??n?k/
• Rhymes: -?n?k

Adjective

sardonic (comparative more sardonic, superlative most sardonic)

1. Scornfully mocking or cynical.

   He distances himself from people with his nasty, sardonic laughter.

   • November, 1628, Henry Wotton, letter to Jack Dinely

     strained, sardonic smiles

   • 1796, Edmund Burke, Letters on a Regicide Peace

     the scornful, ferocious, sardonic grin of a bloody ruffian

2. Disdainfully or ironically humorous.

Related terms

• Sardonian
• sarcastic

Translations

References

Anagrams

• Scardino

Romanian

Etymology

From French sardonique, from Latin sardonicus.

Adjective

sardonic m or n (feminine singular sardonic?, masculine plural sardonici, feminine and neuter plural sardonice)

1. sardonic

Declension