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

Example Sentences

Recent Examples on the Web Christie, for one, was dismissive of the idea that a split field would again help Trump.

Shane Goldmacher, BostonGlobe.com, 20 Nov. 2022 Vance is publicly dismissive of his opponent's chances.

Jill Colvin, ajc, 28 Oct. 2022 College and university leaders are routinely critical and dismissive of the listing, but thousands of schools continue to participate.

Danielle Douglas-gabriel, Anchorage Daily News, 17 Nov. 2022 That was also the night of her highly memed, witheringly dismissive applause to the then-president.

Tori Otten, The New Republic, 17 Nov. 2022 But most of the Trump White House, cabinet and agency world was silent, or dismissive.

Kimberley A. Strassel, WSJ, 17 Nov. 2022 The unnamed woman, who has since left the bank, detailed vulgar and dismissive comments about women from bank executives, including CEO David Solomon.

Paige Mcglauflin, Fortune, 16 Nov. 2022 The bank settled with the departing partner two years ago, in a deal that kept secret her detailed account of senior executives making vulgar and dismissive comments about women, according to people with knowledge of the matter.

BostonGlobe.com, 15 Nov. 2022 The umbrella term covers a wide range of actions — from unnecessary episiotomies and exams performed without consent to dehumanizing or dismissive language — that can happen during pregnancy, delivery, or in the post-partum period.

Candace Y.a. Montague, STAT, 5 Nov. 2022 See More

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'dismissive.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.