1
as in joke
a person or thing that is made fun of after yet another last place finish, the team became nothing more than a derision to all but its most loyal fans

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2
as in ridicule
the making of unkind jokes as a way of showing one's scorn for someone or something their absurd behavior on the awards show became a source of derision for comedians

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Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of derision Isolationism as a Slur In the postwar era, isolationism devolved from a coherent strategic perspective into a term of political derision. Andrew Latham, JSTOR Daily, 27 Mar. 2025 While some welcomed Meghan's return to public life, others piled on with online derision ranging from criticism of her personality to a seeming lack of authenticity by shooting the show at a set and not her real home. Anna Kaufman, USA Today, 26 Mar. 2025 The derision from the Right was predictable enough, but there was also open dismay from Democrats who would have kept silent at the same clip only a year ago. Alexander Nazaryan, Washington Examiner - Political News and Conservative Analysis About Congress, the President, and the Federal Government, 21 Mar. 2025 In a movie climate where remakes tend to draw sneers of derision and claims that people have just gotten too lazy to invent anything new, Disney’s remakes of its own products are always a chief target. Stephanie Zacharek, TIME, 21 Mar. 2025 See All Example Sentences for derision
Recent Examples of Synonyms for derision
Noun
  • Dave Chappelle roasted Donald Trump for taking over as chairman of the Kennedy Center—weeks after a past joke about the president went newly viral on social media.
    Jack Royston, MSNBC Newsweek, 1 May 2025
  • Joy Behar landed in hot water when a joke about a decades-old scandal fell flat.
    Anna Kaufman, USA Today, 1 May 2025
Noun
  • Though its purpose was to bring attention to women in aeronautics, the flight resulted in a flood of criticism and ridicule online, even from Perry’s fellow celebrities like Olivia Munn and Amy Schumer as well as the fast food chain Wendy’s.
    Ellise Shafer, Variety, 30 Apr. 2025
  • The meme is used to highlight and poke fun at cultural differences between Europeans and Americans, and while often jovial, such memes can adopt a tone of ridicule.
    Mohammed Soliman, MSNBC Newsweek, 28 Apr. 2025
Noun
  • These observations are laying the groundwork for when Lucy encounters its first Trojan target, Eurybates, and its satellite Queta in 2027.
    Sara Hashemi, Smithsonian Magazine, 23 Apr. 2025
  • The Electoral College is a frequent target of criticism—. Few polls ask citizens their thoughts about the Electoral College beyond one's preference for a popular vote instead of the current process.
    Robert Alexander and Anna Dawley, MSNBC Newsweek, 23 Apr. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Derision.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/derision. Accessed 6 May. 2025.

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