derisive

WOTD – 2 May 2008    

English

Etymology

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

Pronunciation

• (UK, US) IPA: /dɪˈɹaɪ.sɪv/, X-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) (nasmešliv), подигравателен (bg) (podigravatelen)
• Finnish: pilkallinen (fi)
• German: spöttisch (de), höhnisch (de)
• Hungarian: gúnyos (hu), gúnyolódó (hu)
• Icelandic: háðslegur (is)

• Polish: szyderczy m, drwiący m
• Portuguese: escarnecedor
• Russian: насмешливый (ru) (nasméšlivyj) 
• Spanish: burlón (es), mofador (es)
• Swedish: skrattretande (sv)

deserving or provoking derision

• Bulgarian: смехотворен (bg) (smehotvoren)
• German: lächerlich (de)
• Hungarian: gúnyos (hu), gúnyolódó (hu)

• Portuguese: ridículo (pt)
• Russian: смехотворный (ru) (smexotvórnyj) 
• Spanish: ridículo (es)

References

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

Anagrams

• desirive