derision
noun
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Where does derision come from?
Derision shares part of its origin with the words ridiculous and risible; all may be traced to the Latin verb ridēre (“to laugh”). From the time derision entered the English language in the 14th century, it has suggested laughter, albeit of a mocking or scornful variety. It may also be used to indicate an object of scornful laughter—that is, a laughingstock—as in the line from Lamentations 3:14 of the King James Version of the bible: “I was a derision to all my people.”
Synonyms
Examples of derision in a Sentence
Paul Theroux, Granta 44, Summer 1993
Britain had its boffins, working researchers subject to the derision of intellectual gentlemen.
—James Gleick, Genius: The Life & Science of Richard Feynman, 1992
… discussion, laughter, lecturing, but no shouts or threats, no yardsticks banging for silence, no words of shame or derision.
—Lorene Cary, Black Ice, 1991
The whole idea of Camelot excites derision. In fact, I am sure Kennedy would have derided it himself. No one at the time ever thought of his Washington as Camelot.
—Arthur M. Schlesinger, Jr., The Cycles of American History, 1986
One of the students laughed in derision at my error.
The team's awful record has made it an object of derision in the league.
“Nerd” is a term of derision.
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Christopher Goffard, Los Angeles Times, 11 Sep. 2023
Adams has blasted reforms de Blasio supported, both big and small: His attempts to close the abattoir of Rikers Island and install a modicum of police reforms have come under derision, as has his leadership of the city itself.
—Max Rivlin-Nadler, The New Republic, 27 Oct. 2023
Books, articles, and TV shows exposed them to new levels of scrutiny and derision.
—Dan Piepenbring, Harper's Magazine, 16 Oct. 2023
His detractors in the audience laughed with derision.
—Jay Nordlinger, National Review, 16 Oct. 2023
Wolff portrays her as the butt of constant jokes and derision from Fox men.
—Nina Burleigh, The New Republic, 26 Sep. 2023
The idea pushed by Republicans allied with Sen. Tommy Tuberville, who has held up more than 300 officer nominations in protest of a Pentagon reproductive health care policy, was met with derision by Democrats as the panel vetted Gen. David Allvin for promotion to Air Force chief of staff.
—Svetlana Shkolnikova Stars and Stripes (tns), al, 13 Sep. 2023
Despite his turns as a Latin heavy, Mr. Margolis, who was Jewish, did not speak Spanish, a point that earned him no shortage of derision from native speakers.
—Alex Williams, New York Times, 5 Aug. 2023
Generals, in turn, openly wonder about extraterrestrials without fear of derision.
—Terrence McCoy, Washington Post, 6 Sep. 2023
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These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'derision.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
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Dictionary Entries Near derision
Cite this Entry
“Derision.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/derision. Accessed 5 Dec. 2023.
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derision
noun
More from Merriam-Webster on derision
Nglish: Translation of derision for Spanish Speakers
Britannica English: Translation of derision for Arabic Speakers
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