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
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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But while the Gemstones themselves have embraced Kelvin and his coming out, the rest of the world — particularly rival preacher Vance Simkins (Stephen Dorff), Kelvin’s competition for the ridiculous title of Top Christ-Following Man — is more critical.—
Alison Herman,
Variety,
21 Apr. 2025
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In the video, Colbert and Cumming embody billionaires, with the lyrics taking aim at the ridiculous obsessions of the wealthy.—
Emily Zemler,
Rolling Stone,
16 Apr. 2025
Adjective
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Quarterly reports delayed by years would be absurd.—
Ingmar Rentzhog,
Forbes.com,
21 Apr. 2025
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While that isn't anywhere close to of being traded 10 times, being traded in four straight seasons is quite absurd.—
Andrew Wright,
MSNBC Newsweek,
18 Apr. 2025
Adjective
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This is one where the visual spectacle and weird fourth-wall-breaking sections stand head and shoulders above everything else, making for an extremely memorable adventure that embraces the silly side of Doctor Who.—
Josh Hammer,
MSNBC Newsweek,
22 Apr. 2025
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But silly things like feelings and mental health don't matter to rebellion leader Luthen (Stellan Skarsgård), who wants results at any cost.—
Kelly Lawler,
USA Today,
22 Apr. 2025
Adjective
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Kenney-Silver delivers a touchingly nuanced performance as Anne, balanced on the fine line between sad as in devastated and sad as in pathetic.—
Angie Han,
HollywoodReporter,
1 May 2025
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Marathon needs to be given every possible chance to succeed and making Bungie crunch to fix things and throwing it into the wolves as a fall release (one that’s literally on the same day as Borderlands 4, mind you) would be a pathetic excuse for support.—
Paul Tassi,
Forbes.com,
28 Apr. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Derisive.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/derisive. Accessed 5 May. 2025.
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