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

However, both Jackie and Chantel need to work together to resolve their issues, rather than resorting to screaming matches, dismissive walkouts, and physical altercations. —Dominique Fluker, Essence, 24 July 2025

Patients, many of whom are living with chronic, complex conditions, may receive care that is ineffective, inappropriate or dismissive. —Hany Demian, Forbes.com, 10 July 2025

Her aunt doesn’t have time to take her sightseeing, her cousin Céline is cool and dismissive, and her grandmother, who runs an antique shop, is distraught when a precious family heirloom—a drawing by Matisse—goes missing. —Caroline Carlson june 30, Literary Hub, 30 June 2025

Trump was dismissive of Carlson’s viewpoint when reporters asked him to comment during the 2025 G7 Summit on Monday. —Rebecca Schneid, Time, 18 June 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1645, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for dismissive

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