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Sardonic vs Sadistic - What's the difference?

sardonic | sadistic |

As adjectives the difference between sardonic and sadistic

is that sardonic is scornfully mocking or cynical while sadistic is delighting in or feeling pleasure from the pain of others.

sardonic

English

Adjective

(en adjective)
  • Scornfully mocking or cynical.
    • He distances himself from people with his nasty, sardonic laughter.
  • * Sir H. Wotton
    • strained, sardonic smiles
  • * Burke
    • the scornful, ferocious, sardonic grin of a bloody ruffian
  • Disdainfully or ironically humorous.

    • Related terms

    * Sardonian

    sadistic

    English

    Adjective

    (en adjective)
  • Delighting in or feeling pleasure from the pain of others.
  • * 22 March 2012 , Scott Tobias, AV Club The Hunger Games [http://www.avclub.com/articles/the-hunger-games,71293/]
    • Together, with the help of the drunkard Haymitch (Woody Harrelson), the only District 12 citizen ever to win the Games, they challenge tributes that range from sadistic volunteers to crafty kids like the pint-sized Rue (Amandla Stenberg) to the truly helpless and soon-to-be-dead.
  • Of behaviour which gives pleasure in the pain of others.

    • Related terms

    * (l)