dismissive

adjective

dis·​mis·​sive dis-ˈmi-siv 

: serving to dismiss or reject someone or something : having or showing a disdainful attitude toward someone or something regarded as unworthy of serious attention

He responded to the question with a dismissive wave.

In the past, Westerberg had been dismissive of Bob's playing, but he says relistening to the early records gave him a new perspective.

—Bob Weir

dismissively adverb

Writer Tom Fontana's violent, realistic drama debuted five years ago and uninitiated viewers still dismissively call it "that prison show on HBO."

—Ian Rothkerch

These are not people who speak dismissively of the brain's capabilities.

—Brad Leithauser

dismissiveness noun

The work of feminist scholars, both individually and collectively, has been greeted in some quarters with impatience, irritation, dismissiveness, even contempt.

—Cullen Murphy

Examples of dismissive in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

The speaker was dismissive of Musk's threats to finance opponents -- even Democrats -- of Republican members who back Trump's bill. —Arkansas Online, 9 June 2025

There’s little narrative movement, though the film gains a sense of structure and momentum from a steadily fraying sense of reality — beginning drolly when Anna, after a day spent hosting an obnoxious and finally dismissive Swedish gallerist, envisions his plane dropping from the sky. —Guy Lodge, Variety, 26 May 2025

The speaker was dismissive of Musk’s threats to finance opponents — even Democrats — of Republican members who back Trump’s bill. —Bill Barrow, Chicago Tribune, 8 June 2025

When asked whether their chain has any reservations about growing too quickly, Dave’s leadership is dismissive. —Jemima McEvoy, Forbes.com, 7 June 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1645, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for dismissive

• derisive
• emissive
• permissive
• submissive
• transmissive
• missive