derogatory

de·rog·a·to·ry

adjective \di-ˈrä-gə-ˌtȯr-ē\

Definition of DEROGATORY

1

: detracting from the character or standing of something —often used with to, towards, or of

2

: expressive of a low opinion : disparaging <derogatory remarks>

— de·rog·a·to·ri·ly \-ˌrä-gə-ˈtȯr-ə-lē\ adverb

Examples of DEROGATORY

1. <fans made a steady stream of derogatory remarks about the players on the visiting team>
2. The aroma of wine made from Concord … grapes is often described as “foxy,” a wine term as derogatory as it is vague. —Danny May et al., Berkshire Home Style, March 2007
3. In Powell's memoir, Lemann points out, terms like “expert” and “academic” are clearly derogatory. —Franklin Foer, New Republic, 5 Feb. 2001
4. Unfortunately, the codes were badly explained and ham-handedly enforced. At Michigan an interpretive guide called “What Students Should Know…” went beyond the scope of the actual code in saying that even a derogatory comment … would be punished by the university. —Laurence R. Stains, Rolling Stone, 5 Aug. 1993

Origin of DEROGATORY

(see derogate)

First Known Use: circa 1503

Related to DEROGATORY

Synonyms

belittling, contemptuous, decrying, degrading, demeaning, denigrative, denigratory, deprecatory, depreciative, depreciatory, derisory, derogative, detractive, disdainful, disparaging, pejorative, scornful, slighting, uncomplimentary

Antonyms

commendatory, complimentary, laudative, laudatory

Related Words

aspersing, calumnious, defamatory, insulting, libelous (or libellous), maligning, slandering, slanderous, vilifying; abusive, opprobrious, scurrilous; catty, cruel, despiteful, hateful, malevolent, malicious, malign, malignant, mean, nasty, spiteful, unkind, virulent; critical, denunciative, denunciatory; acrimonious, bitter, envious, jaundiced, jealous, rancorous, resentful; acrid, caustic, scathing, venomous

Near Antonyms

admiring, adulatory, applauding, approving, friendly, positive; appreciative, respectful; kind, kindhearted, kindly, sympathetic, unmalicious, warm, warmhearted

Rhymes with DEROGATORY

accusatory, admonitory, adulatory, a fortiori, aleatory, ambulatory, amendatory, applicatory, approbatory, celebratory, circulatory, combinatory, commendatory, compensatory, conciliatory, condemnatory, confirmatory, confiscatory, conservatory, consolatory, contributory, copulatory, cosignatory, declamatory, declaratory, dedicatory, defamatory, denigratory, depilatory, depository, designatory, dispensatory, divinatory, escalatory, excitatory, exclamatory, exculpatory, excusatory, exhibitory, exhortatory, expiatory, expiratory, explanatory, explicatory, exploratory, expository, expurgatory, incubatory, indicatory, inflammatory, informatory, innovatory, inspiratory, inundatory, invitatory, judicatory, masticatory, masturbatory, memento mori, millefiori, obfuscatory, obligatory, observatory, performatory, persecutory, predicatory, premonitory, prohibitory, reformatory, regulatory, repository, retributory, revelatory, respiratory, salutatory, stipulatory, supplicatory, transmigratory, undulatory