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 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 administrative state, a term thrown around with much derision in conservative circles, is simply a label for what the government does to keep America running. Paisley Currah, New Yorker, 27 May 2025 In the 1980’s the Zastava Yugo, aka the Yugo, was sold in the US for less than $4000, bringing both popularity and derision. Matthew Carey, Deadline, 9 May 2025 Fashion's biggest night has unfolded to the delight and derision of the internet. Marni Rose McFall, MSNBC Newsweek, 6 May 2025 See All Example Sentences for derision
Recent Examples of Synonyms for derision
Noun
  • She was raised in a society—a West Indian society—that did not put much of a premium on women’s bodies, where any kind of intimacy was a joke.
    Hilton Als, New Yorker, 30 June 2025
  • And yet the world is too driven by algorithms, too fragmented in its tastes, to ever be on the same page again and get the same jokes.
    Christopher Borrelli, Chicago Tribune, 30 June 2025
Noun
  • The idea that New York City is finally putting its trash in cans, long after most urban civilizations have done so, has led to a fair amount of ridicule.
    Emma G. Fitzsimmons, New York Times, 2 June 2025
  • The rampant skepticism of Cassie and the ridicule of her pain reflect a societal conditioning that denies Black women genuine victimhood.
    Andre Gee, Rolling Stone, 17 May 2025
Noun
  • Israeli officials have also suggested that regime change in Iran is among the goals of their war, and that Khamenei could be a target for assassination.
    Colin Meyn, The Hill, 22 June 2025
  • Countries that have managed to build their own nuclear weapons, such as North Korea, become much harder targets for attacks.
    Matthew Tostevin Amir Daftari, MSNBC Newsweek, 22 June 2025
Noun
  • Burgess and Shelby’s View Forecasting Trump’s decisions is always a fool’s errand, and his public statements on Wednesday only underscored his opaque approach.
    Burgess Everett, semafor.com, 18 June 2025
  • Still, only a fool would underestimate the strength of a mom’s love.
    David Fear, Rolling Stone, 13 June 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Derision.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/derision. Accessed 3 Jul. 2025.

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