dismissive
Americanadjective
-
indicating dismissal or rejection; having the purpose or effect of dismissing, as from one's presence or from consideration.
a curt, dismissive gesture.
-
indicating lack of interest or approbation; scornful; disdainful.
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of dismissive
Explanation
To be dismissive is to be indifferent and a little rude. Being dismissive is a sign of disrespect. If you're dismissive, you show little consideration for others. If a teacher laughs at a student's earnest answer to a question, that's dismissive. An employer throwing a resume in the trash without reading it? Dismissive. People are dismissive to others they think are beneath them. You can also be dismissive to ideas and suggestions. It's like waving someone or something away and saying, "whatever."
Vocabulary lists containing dismissive
Refugee
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Boots on the Ground: America's War in Vietnam
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Into the Wild
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
The panel also said Smith's tone and language towards Burgess was "dismissive in nature", while Comotto was "antagonistic".
From BBC ● Oct. 6, 2026
Indeed, they were dismissive of Rotkoff’s own efforts to help them: He described to me how O’Rourke initially missed out on the AFL-CIO’s endorsement because his campaign hadn’t asked for it.
From Slate ● Sep. 21, 2026
The dismissive attitude toward “flyover country,” perfectly caricatured in Saul Steinberg’s famous 1976 New Yorker cover in which the map of America is reduced to Manhattan and the West Coast, is personal to him.
From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 9, 2026
Mr. Boorman comes across as donnish, astute and likable, but also arrogant and dismissive of legitimate concerns.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 27, 2026
“Touring car,” said Chase in a dismissive tone.
From "Hattie Big Sky" by Kirby Larson
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
