as in ridiculous
so foolish or pointless as to be worthy of scornful laughter
the derisive performances of some of the singers on the talent show
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of derisive
The movie was met with stone silence for most of the running time, eventually turning to derisive laughter.
—
Jordan Hoffman, EW.com, 15 May 2025
What makes some films feel real and others like sham products, worthy only of that derisive term content?
—Stephanie Zacharek, Time, 7 May 2025
The movie’s historical re-creations, however derisive, are chilling.
—Richard Brody, New Yorker, 1 Apr. 2025
Groups opposed to the former governor have already cut ads portraying Mr. Cuomo as disrespectful and derisive to the Black community, according to a Democratic operative familiar with them.
—Nicholas Fandos, New York Times, 18 Jan. 2025
See All Example Sentences for derisive
Jordan Hoffman, EW.com, 15 May 2025
What makes some films feel real and others like sham products, worthy only of that derisive term content?
—Stephanie Zacharek, Time, 7 May 2025
The movie’s historical re-creations, however derisive, are chilling.
—Richard Brody, New Yorker, 1 Apr. 2025
Groups opposed to the former governor have already cut ads portraying Mr. Cuomo as disrespectful and derisive to the Black community, according to a Democratic operative familiar with them.
—Nicholas Fandos, New York Times, 18 Jan. 2025
See All Example Sentences for derisive
Recent Examples of Synonyms for derisive
Adjective
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But now, Netflix has deemed that almost any mildly or very successful show like Wednesday must now air its episodes in a 2+ month split, broken in half, or in some ridiculous instances, broken into thirds (see the November 26, December 25, December 31 split for Stranger Things season 5).—
Paul Tassi,
Forbes.com,
8 Sep. 2025
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And on Sunday, the feat got even more ridiculous, as Chapman struck out four batters in an inning against the Arizona Diamondbacks, thanks to a wild pitch catcher Carlos Narváez couldn't corral.—
Jackson Roberts,
MSNBC Newsweek,
8 Sep. 2025
Adjective
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There’s no denying that catfish noodling is an absurd sport.—
Natalie Krebs,
Outdoor Life,
11 Sep. 2025
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Barely any other media in recent times has given me an instant shock of glee or revulsion like this absurd anarcho-cartoon being stretched and squeezed to its most grotesque and wholesome clickbait limits.—
Kieran Press-Reynolds,
Pitchfork,
10 Sep. 2025
Adjective
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Many kids find repeating these phrases satisfying, or silly, or just plain fun to say, Estevez says.—
Wendy Wisner,
Parents,
8 Sep. 2025
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There are no silly games being played.—
Anna Kaufman,
USA Today,
8 Sep. 2025
Adjective
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The end of that era came slowly, through the pathetic collapse of Syria and Lebanon as functioning states, and then quickly, when Israel began touching Hezbollah in unexpected places.—
Graeme Wood,
The Atlantic,
2 Sep. 2025
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Want the poop on this pathetic history?—
Brian Domitrovic,
Forbes.com,
30 Aug. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Derisive.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/derisive. Accessed 16 Sep. 2025.
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