dismissive

[ dis-mis-iv ]

adjective

1. indicating dismissal or rejection; having the purpose or effect of dismissing, as from one's presence or from consideration:

   a curt, dismissive gesture.

2. indicating lack of interest or approbation; scornful; disdainful.

Other Words From

• dis·missive·ly adverb

Word History and Origins

Origin of dismissive¹

First recorded in 1635–45; dismiss + -ive

Example Sentences

She found Martinez’s response “dismissive” and accused the court system of mishandling her complaint, according to a brief filed last week.

From Washington Post

It’s impossible to watch any recent Olympics in a crowd in China without hearing a dismissive comparison to Beijing 2008.

From Quartz

This means that there’s no one solution, so offering one can feel minimizing or dismissive toward the feelings and experiences of a person suffering from this condition.

From Popular-Science

For the third time since the Affordable Care Act became law in 2010, the Supreme Court rejected a call for it to sabotage that law — this time, in an unusually dismissive opinion.

From Vox

Gebru remembers dismissive comments from some in the AI community.

From MIT Technology Review

Hogue says that when he returned to the table and tried to enter the conversation, Cosby was dismissive.

From The Daily Beast

Klein is simultaneously not only cynical about political leaders, but dismissive of them.

From The Daily Beast

The stock market wasn't quite as dismissive of Murdoch's $80 billion bid as Time Warner was.

From The Daily Beast

Meanwhile, the group claims, Somers acted dismissive and at one point in the meeting picked lint off his jacket.

From The Daily Beast

To both of those concerns, however, Herz is dismissive in three parts.

From The Daily Beast

Richard made a slight dismissive motion with his hand, as showing Mr. Gwynn that he might retire.

From Project Gutenberg

Edna bent her head with a dismissive nod, and continued her frivolous conversation with the Count.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• aloof
• arrogant
• averse
• contemptuous
• derisive
• haughty
• unsympathetic