derogatory

[dih-rog-uh-tawr-ee, -tohr-ee]

See more synonyms for derogatory on Thesaurus.com

adjective

tending to lessen the merit or reputation of a person or thing; disparaging; depreciatory: a derogatory remark.

Origin of derogatory

1495–1505; < Late Latin dērogātōrius cursing, equivalent to dērogā(re) (see derogate) + -tōrius -tory¹

Related formsde·rog·a·to·ri·ly, adverbde·rog·a·to·ri·ness, nounnon·de·rog·a·to·ri·ly, adverbnon·de·rog·a·to·ri·ly·ness, nounnon·de·rog·a·to·ry, adjective

Synonyms

See more synonyms for derogatory on Thesaurus.com

belittling, uncomplimentary, denigrating.

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

Examples from the Web for derogatory

Contemporary Examples

Reid had written poems about three other professors, all of them critical and derogatory.
Stonewall Jackson, VMI’s Most Embattled Professor
S. C. Gwynne
November 29, 2014
As for the piece itself, at the time, I thought it portrayed the band as real and it did so not in any sort of derogatory way.
Stacks: Hitting the Note with the Allman Brothers Band
Grover Lewis
March 15, 2014
If a man gave that testimony, you would never see those kind of derogatory remarks.
The GOP's History of Sexist Hillary-Bashing
Sam Kleiner
December 26, 2013
After 11 years of service, his visa was just denied due to “derogatory information.”
We Abandoned Them: Kirk Johnson’s Fight to Save Iraqis
John Kael Weston
September 14, 2013
The defense claims that Elderts used the term “haole”—a derogatory Hawaiian term for white people— before the fight broke out.
State Department Murder Suspect Chris Deedy Was a Benghazi Security Agent
Josh Rogin
July 18, 2013

Historical Examples

That officer thought the ox-cart was derogatory to the dignity of the army.
Bulgaria
Frank Fox
In his haste he had said derogatory things about Robin in his heart, which was unreasonable.
Mary Gray
Katharine Tynan
He bristled at the derogatory title but he covered it quickly.
Highways in Hiding
George Oliver Smith
She used the caste rating as though it was not quite a derogatory term.
Mercenary
Dallas McCord Reynolds
They warmly shook hands, as Roger did not consider it derogatory.
Roger Willoughby
William H. G. Kingston

British Dictionary definitions for derogatory

derogatory

adjective

tending or intended to detract, disparage, or belittle; intentionally offensive

Derived Formsderogatorily, adverbderogatoriness, 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 derogatory

adj.

c.1500, from Late Latin derogatorius, from Latin derogatus, past participle of derogare "to take away, detract from, diminish," also "repeal partly, restrict, modify," from de- "away" (see de-) + rogare "ask, question, propose" (see rogation).

derogatory

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;}}derogatory

Synonyms

Examples from the Web for derogatory

Contemporary Examples

Reid had written poems about three other professors, all of them critical and derogatory.

As for the piece itself, at the time, I thought it portrayed the band as real and it did so not in any sort of derogatory way.

If a man gave that testimony, you would never see those kind of derogatory remarks.

After 11 years of service, his visa was just denied due to “derogatory information.”

The defense claims that Elderts used the term “haole”—a derogatory Hawaiian term for white people— before the fight broke out.

Historical Examples

That officer thought the ox-cart was derogatory to the dignity of the army.

In his haste he had said derogatory things about Robin in his heart, which was unreasonable.

He bristled at the derogatory title but he covered it quickly.

She used the caste rating as though it was not quite a derogatory term.

They warmly shook hands, as Roger did not consider it derogatory.

derogatory

Word Origin and History for derogatory

adj.

Origin of derogatory