derisive

[dih-rahy-siv, -ris-iv]

See more synonyms for derisive on Thesaurus.com

adjective

characterized by or expressing derision; contemptuous; mocking: derisive heckling.

Also de·ri·so·ry

[dih-rahy-suh-ree, -zuh-] /dɪˈraɪ sə ri, -zə-/.

Origin of derisive

First recorded in 1655–65; deris(ion) + -ive

Related formsde·ri·sive·ly, adverbde·ri·sive·ness, nounnon·de·ri·sive, adjectiveo·ver·de·ri·sive, adjectiveo·ver·de·ri·sive·ly, adverbo·ver·de·ri·sive·ness, nounun·de·ri·sive, adjectiveun·de·ri·sive·ly, adverbun·de·ri·sive·ness, nounun·de·ri·so·ry, adjective

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018

Examples from the Web for derisive

Contemporary Examples

That being said, people in the deaf community felt free to make pointed and derisive comments about my CI.
This Is What It Is Like To Be Deaf From Birth
Quora Contributor
December 23, 2013
The message is derisive—rhabdomyolysis and whatever else might happen to certain people is really for wimps and buffoons only.
Cool It on the CrossFit: What’s Rhabdomyolysis?
Kent Sepkowitz
October 11, 2013
A French satirical magazine runs some derisive cartoons of Muhammad.
The Cost of Cartooning
David Frum
September 19, 2012
Remember all the derisive comments about previous encounters?
A Winning Final Four at the GOP Debate in Charleston
Michael Medved
January 20, 2012
In retrospect, Horyn thinks she made a mistake—though she says she didn't mean to be derisive about the actress' weight.
Fashion's Most Feared Critic
Jacob Bernstein
October 11, 2010

Historical Examples

There were those in the valley who viewed the Sabbath calm with a derisive smile.
The Law-Breakers
Ridgwell Cullum
They regarded him and his wife with derisive pity, tinged with anger.
Fruitfulness
Emile Zola
The point was treated with contempt and some derisive laughter.
The Shadow of a Crime
Hall Caine
As he did so, from the path above him came a derisive laugh which set his blood boiling.
'Smiles'
Eliot H. Robinson
But there is no spur so galling as the derisive smile of a comely young woman.
Bloom of Cactus
Robert Ames Bennet

British Dictionary definitions for derisive

derisive

adjective

showing or characterized by derision; mocking; scornful

Derived Formsderisively, adverbderisiveness, noun

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Word Origin and History for derisive

adj.

1620s, "characterized by derision," from Latin deris-, past participle stem of deridere (see derision) + -ive. Meaning "ridiculous" is from 1896. Related: Derisively.

derisive

Origin of .css-1fxfie5{font-size:22px;}@media (max-width:768px){.css-1fxfie5{font-size:18px;margin:0 10px 10px 0;word-break:break-all;word-wrap:break-word;-webkit-hyphens:auto;-moz-hyphens:auto;-ms-hyphens:auto;hyphens:auto;line-height:22px;}}derisive

Examples from the Web for derisive

Contemporary Examples

That being said, people in the deaf community felt free to make pointed and derisive comments about my CI.

The message is derisive—rhabdomyolysis and whatever else might happen to certain people is really for wimps and buffoons only.

A French satirical magazine runs some derisive cartoons of Muhammad.

Remember all the derisive comments about previous encounters?

In retrospect, Horyn thinks she made a mistake—though she says she didn't mean to be derisive about the actress' weight.

Historical Examples

There were those in the valley who viewed the Sabbath calm with a derisive smile.

They regarded him and his wife with derisive pity, tinged with anger.

The point was treated with contempt and some derisive laughter.

As he did so, from the path above him came a derisive laugh which set his blood boiling.

But there is no spur so galling as the derisive smile of a comely young woman.

derisive

Word Origin and History for derisive

adj.

Origin of derisive