risus sardonicus

noun

A rictus grin; an abnormal sustained spasm of the facial muscles that appears to produce grinning, characteristic of tetanus and of strychnine poisoning.

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Meanings

noun
  1. A rictus grin; an abnormal sustained spasm of the facial muscles that appears to produce grinning, characteristic of tetanus and of strychnine poisoning.

Origin

Latin

Full word history & related roots →
Cite this entry
APA

risus sardonicus. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 5, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/risus%20sardonicus

MLA

“risus sardonicus.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/risus%20sardonicus. Accessed November 5, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “risus sardonicus,” accessed November 5, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/risus%20sardonicus.

Source: risus sardonicus on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.