deride

verb

de·​ride di-ˈrīd 

dē-

derided; deriding

transitive verb

1

: to laugh at or insult contemptuously

got derided by a carnival clown

2

: to subject to usually bitter or contemptuous ridicule or criticism

politicians deriding their opponents

: to express a lack of respect or approval of

were derided as the weaker sex

derider noun

deridingly

di-ˈrī-diŋ-lē 

dē-

adverb

Did you know?

Deride is a combination of the prefix de- ("make lower") and ridēre, a Latin verb meaning "to laugh." Ridēre echoes in other English words as well, some common and some obscure. In the former category we have ridicule and ridiculous. Ridicule functions as both verb ("to make fun of") and noun ("the act of making fun of"), while ridiculous describes what arouses or deserves ridicule or mockery. Obscure ridēre words include arride (it has an obsolete meaning of "to smile or laugh at," and also means "to please, gratify, or delight") and irrision, a synonym of derision, the close noun relation of deride. Also in the category of obscure ridēre words is risorius; this medical term refers to a narrow band of facial muscle fibers that reach to the corners of the mouth to make smiling possible.

Synonyms

• gibe
• jibe
• jeer
• laugh (at)
• mock
• ridicule
• scout
• shoot down
• skewer

Choose the Right Synonym for deride

ridicule, deride, mock, taunt mean to make an object of laughter of.

ridicule implies a deliberate often malicious belittling.

consistently ridiculed everything she said

deride suggests contemptuous and often bitter ridicule.

derided their efforts to start their own business

mock implies scorn often ironically expressed as by mimicry or sham deference.

youngsters began to mock the helpless wino

taunt suggests jeeringly provoking insult or challenge.

hometown fans taunted the visiting team

Examples of deride in a Sentence

my brothers derided our efforts, but were forced to eat their words when we won first place

Recent Examples on the Web

In the past year, Nike has struggled with layoffs, restructuring, and accusations of sexism; had its new baseball kits widely derided by both fans and players; and been subject to sneaker competitors such as On Running coming for its lunch. —Adrienne So, WIRED, 17 Apr. 2024

His not-guilty verdict—announced on October 3, 1995, another seminal date in 1990s history—was cheered by many Black Americans, and derided by white ones. —Sean Gregory, TIME, 11 Apr. 2024

The $4-million investment in the ad, which was derided by some of Kennedy’s relatives, amounted to a political coming out for Nicole Shanahan, a tech attorney, entrepreneur and wealthy philanthropist. —James Rainey, Los Angeles Times, 24 Mar. 2024

Often derided as resulting in beers that are flat and warm, that’s not actually the case. —Jay R. Brooks, The Mercury News, 12 Mar. 2024

The company behind the 737 Max, a plane its own test pilots infamously derided as designed by clowns and supervised by monkeys, wants to be known for quality and safety once again. —Christiaan Hetzner, Fortune, 8 Mar. 2024

The entertainment conglomerate’s corporate leadership was facing a bold attack from billionaire activist investor Nelson Peltz, who loudly pushed the company to come up with a concrete succession plan and derided efforts to make more diverse movies and shows. —Rob Wile, NBC News, 3 Apr. 2024

McConnell has privately derided Trump, publicly attacked him for his role in fomenting the Jan. 6, 2021, attack on the Capitol and has not spoken with Trump for several years. —Josh Dawsey, Washington Post, 6 Mar. 2024

The interjection came early in the remarks, as Biden derided Trump over his handling of the COVID-19 pandemic. —Lawrence Andrea, Journal Sentinel, 7 Mar. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Latin deridēre, from de- + ridēre to laugh

First Known Use

circa 1526, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Kids Definition

deride

verb

de·​ride di-ˈrīd 

derided; deriding

: to laugh at scornfully : make fun of

derider noun

deridingly

-ˈrīd-iŋ-lē 

adverb