cynical vs sardonic

cynical

adj
  • Bitterly or jadedly distrustful or contemptuous; mocking. 

  • Of or relating to the belief that human actions are motivated only or primarily by base desires or selfishness. 

  • Like the actions of a snarling dog, especially in reference to facial nerve paralysis. 

  • Showing contempt for accepted moral standards by one's actions. 

  • Skeptical of the integrity, sincerity, or motives of others. 

sardonic

adj
  • Scornfully mocking or cynical. 

  • Disdainfully or ironically humorous. 

How often have the words cynical and sardonic occurred in a corpus of books? (source: Google Ngram Viewer )