as in ridiculous
so foolish or pointless as to be worthy of scornful laughter
the derisive performances of some of the singers on the talent show
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of derisive
And online advertisements by Canadian airlines for trips to sunnier U.S. winter destinations have been met with derisive comments and calls to vacation in Canada.
—
Ian Willms, New York Times, 3 Feb. 2025
Swisher was referring to Trump’s derisive nickname for Warren, Pocahontas, last aimed at her during his address last Tuesday night.
—Jill Goldsmith, Deadline, 8 Mar. 2025
Trump has made a political career out of insulting his adversaries and making up derisive nicknames for them.
—Leonard Greene, New York Daily News, 2 Mar. 2025
Yet their box-office take was negligible, and many reviews were not just negative but derisive.
—Richard Brody, The New Yorker, 13 Jan. 2025
See All Example Sentences for derisive
Ian Willms, New York Times, 3 Feb. 2025
Swisher was referring to Trump’s derisive nickname for Warren, Pocahontas, last aimed at her during his address last Tuesday night.
—Jill Goldsmith, Deadline, 8 Mar. 2025
Trump has made a political career out of insulting his adversaries and making up derisive nicknames for them.
—Leonard Greene, New York Daily News, 2 Mar. 2025
Yet their box-office take was negligible, and many reviews were not just negative but derisive.
—Richard Brody, The New Yorker, 13 Jan. 2025
See All Example Sentences for derisive
Recent Examples of Synonyms for derisive
Adjective
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Supreme Court justice calls it 'ridiculous' Trump cuts reach climate scientists who labored for free Kathryn Palmer is a national trending news reporter for USA TODAY.—
Kathryn Palmer,
USA Today,
15 May 2025
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In a world where leaders seem eager to bend the knee to Trump’s every impulse, even the truly ridiculous seems plausible.—
Charlie Warzel,
The Atlantic,
14 May 2025
Adjective
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Her end goal is extreme realism, no matter how absurd the circumstances are.—
Anna Cafolla,
Vogue,
2 May 2025
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But Stewart lived at the top of their board when on the clock at No. 17 — not just because of his 10.0 Relative Athletic Score or absurd combine workout.—
Paul Dehner Jr.,
New York Times,
2 May 2025
Adjective
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But many will, in situations where they’re allowed to stretch out, go deep, get silly, or eat hot wings while trying to answer questions.—
Robert Lloyd,
Los Angeles Times,
2 May 2025
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Have a Dance Party Clear the furniture, cue up a playlist with all of Mom's favorite hits (and a few silly, kid-friendly jams), and let loose.—
Laura Broadwell,
Parents,
1 May 2025
Adjective
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No other governor, remember, has tried to pull off this pathetic budget stunt.—
Joe Soucheray,
Twin Cities,
10 May 2025
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In his last, most pathetic years, Mark Twain threw himself behind the crackpot theory that the true author of Shakespeare’s plays may have been Francis Bacon.—
Graeme Wood,
The Atlantic,
9 May 2025
Cite this Entry
“Derisive.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/derisive. Accessed 18 May. 2025.
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