had been deriding

• past perfect progressive

  past perfect progressive

  Used to describe an action that was ongoing continuously in the past up until another past event interrupted it.

  of deride.
  deride

  verb (used with object)

  to laugh at in scorn or contempt; scoff or jeer at; mock.

Related Words

• disdain
• disparage
• mock
• ridicule
• scoff
• scorn
• taunt