derisive

WOTD - 2 May 2008    

English

Etymology

From the participle stem of Latin dērīdeō (“I deride”).

Pronunciation

• (UK, US) IPA: /dɪˈɹaɪ.sɪv/, SAMPA: /dI"raI.sIV/

• Audio (US)

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Adjective

derisive (comparative more derisive, superlative most derisive)

1. Expressing or characterized by derision; mocking; ridiculing.

   The critic's review of the film was derisive.

2. Deserving or provoking derision or ridicule.

   The plot of the film was so derisive that the audience began to jeer.

Synonyms

• (expressing or characterized by derision): mocking, ridiculing, scornful, disdainful
• (deserving or provoking derision): ridiculous

Derived terms

• derisively

Related terms

deride derider derisible

derision derisionary

Translations

expressing or characterized by derision; mocking

Bulgarian: насмешлив (bg), подигравателен (bg) Finnish: pilkallinen (fi) Hungarian: gúnyos (hu), gúnyolódó (hu) Icelandic: háðslegur (is) m., háðsleg (is) f., háðslegt (is) n.

Polish: szyderczy m., drwiący m. Portuguese: escarnecedor Russian: насмешливый Swedish: skrattretande (sv)

deserving or provoking derision

Bulgarian: смехотворен (bg) Hungarian: gúnyos (hu), gúnyolódó (hu)

Portuguese: ridículo (pt) Russian: смехотворный (ru)

References

• derisive in The Century Dictionary, The Century Co., New York, 1911

Anagrams

• desirive