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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Recent Examples of derisive
Groups opposed to the former governor have already cut ads portraying Mr. Cuomo as disrespectful and derisive to the Black community, according to a Democratic operative familiar with them.
—
Nicholas Fandos, New York Times, 18 Jan. 2025
The movie was met with stone silence for most of the running time, eventually turning to derisive laughter.
—Jordan Hoffman, EW.com, 15 May 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
Fans gave up and drew national attention for paying planes to circle the stadium with derisive banners.
—Matt Baker, The Athletic, 31 Dec. 2024
See All Example Sentences for derisive
Nicholas Fandos, New York Times, 18 Jan. 2025
The movie was met with stone silence for most of the running time, eventually turning to derisive laughter.
—Jordan Hoffman, EW.com, 15 May 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
Fans gave up and drew national attention for paying planes to circle the stadium with derisive banners.
—Matt Baker, The Athletic, 31 Dec. 2024
See All Example Sentences for derisive
Recent Examples of Synonyms for derisive
Adjective
-
The administration had tried to argue that the plaintiffs had no standing given that the children were not born yet a ridiculous claim given that the effects would apply immediately at the moment of their birth.—
New York Daily News Editorial Board,
New York Daily News,
14 July 2025
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The dances don’t settle for a twist or strut when a full-bodied vibration is possible, and Easley has a penchant for that ridiculous bobbin-head chicken dance from the ‘40s or ‘50s.—
Christopher Arnott,
Hartford Courant,
14 July 2025
Adjective
-
From the vantage point of 2025, this appears as absurd as suggesting that women’s soccer matches should be 70 minutes instead of 90, the same as in the men’s game.—
Charlie Eccleshare,
New York Times,
12 July 2025
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The French super powerhouse has taken teams part since winning the UEFA Champions League crown on May 24, outscoring its foes by an absurd 21-1 margin.—
Michael Lewis,
Forbes.com,
12 July 2025
Adjective
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One of Netflix’s big movie plays for July is the sequel to its very silly but very fun action fantasy film The Old Guard.—
Abid Rahman,
HollywoodReporter,
1 July 2025
-
None of that, however, excuses the silly and juvenile behavior of the Assembly’s majority Democrats last week when the chamber took up a resolution commemorating Pride month.—
Mark Z. Barabak,
Los Angeles Times,
29 June 2025
Adjective
-
The double talk that is presented by both Republicans and Democrats alike is pathetic.—
Chicago Tribune,
Chicago Tribune,
10 July 2025
-
Tehran's retaliation has, so far, been pathetic: a few missiles lobbed at an empty US base, complete with a heads-up.—
Carlo Versano,
MSNBC Newsweek,
24 June 2025
Cite this Entry
“Derisive.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/derisive. Accessed 18 Jul. 2025.
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