Both words suggest the expression of ridicule and scorn towards situations or people, so as to invite laughter at the target’s expense. Mocking is primarily used of tone of voice, laughter, and facial expression, or the general manner in which something is said: a mocking smile. Sardonic is a more refined, but still contemptuous, way of making fun of people or things. Like mocking it’s often an attribute of demeanor—raised a sardonic eyebrow—and tone of voice, but sardonic also appears with words like humor, wit and sophistication, which suggests a degree of verbal skill and humor not central to mocking, which anyone can do.

Both words refer to the act of coming to or reaching a place. Arrival suggests reaching a place by someone or something that has been moving through space towards this place: airport arrivals; the arrival of refugees. Arrival can also be used to mark time: before the arrival of electricity. Advent is also frequently used to speak of the arrival or beginning of something or someone of significance, including day and night and seasons, but particularly historical developments or advances: the advent of computers, agriculture, or summer. Used in this way, advent is not the result of a journey in any recognizable sense, but more an appearance, beginning, or becoming present.

Both these adjectives are more formal synonyms for “nonstop.” Constant, the more frequent word, describes something that continues without stopping or pausing: under constant pressure. In this sense, constant often (though not always) has a negative connotation—and unremitting more so, as it suggests never even letting up or abating, let alone ceasing. The nouns that appear most commonly with unremitting are pain, effort, stress, hostility, bleakness, and pressure, and the verbs, endure and withstand. However, unremitting is sometimes used to describe an admirable and faithful effort, and can even, through contrast with its usual associations, evoke a powerful good: unremitting kindness.