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derogative

adjective

Definition of derogativenext
as in insulting
intended to make a person or thing seem of little importance or value used a common derogative word for lawyers

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of Synonyms for derogative
  1. insulting
  2. derogatory
  3. pejorative
  4. demeaning
  5. malicious
  6. disparaging
  7. uncomplimentary
  8. deprecatory
Adjective
  • Some job seekers say AI interviews can feel impersonal, stilted, and downright insulting.
    — Sarah Jackson Juhohn Lee, CNBC, 15 Sep. 2026
  • Even more insulting was the cold, transactional nature of the intrusion.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 15 Sep. 2026
Definition of insulting
Adjective
  • The Webster Wallace profile is responsible for several other derogatory posts about the mayor, as well.
    — Reed Williams, AJC.com, 21 Sep. 2026
  • Cincinnati athletic director John Cunningham also issued an apology in November to BYU and The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints for derogatory chants by fans during the Bearcats’ game against the Cougars.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 20 Sep. 2026
Definition of derogatory
Adjective
  • Calling something a white wine thriller could be interpreted as pejorative, if not sexist.
    — Mikey O'Connell, HollywoodReporter, 13 Aug. 2026
  • And of course, didn’t have any pejorative meaning at all then.
    — Naman Ramachandran, Variety, 4 Aug. 2026
Definition of pejorative
Adjective
  • Chanen is among a new generation of wives and girlfriends of pro athletes, aka WAGs, who have proudly reclaimed the once-demeaning term.
    — Carly Thomas, HollywoodReporter, 8 Sep. 2026
  • By demeaning and alienating most people, Capps predicted, the Christian right wing was planting the seeds of its own demise.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 25 Aug. 2026
Definition of demeaning
Adjective
  • According to Microsoft, cybercriminals commonly embed QR codes with malicious URLs directly in the body of emails or within attachments.
    — Benjamin Claeys, Forbes.com, 25 Sep. 2026
  • Owen McIntire, 20, of Parkville, faces one count of malicious destruction of property and one count of unlawful possession of an unregistered destructive device for the March 2025 incident.
    — Nathan Pilling, Kansas City Star, 25 Sep. 2026
Definition of malicious
Adjective
  • Felix points to Trump’s disparaging and false comments against Haitians in Springfield, Ohio, which put a target on the back of many Haitian immigrants.
    — Miami Herald, Miami Herald, 29 Apr. 2026
  • The irony is that Trump has been more disparaging and dismissive of the military than any other president.
    — Joe Garofoli, San Francisco Chronicle, 17 Mar. 2026
Definition of disparaging
Adjective
  • Neither party admitted to liability and each agreed to refrain from making disparaging, negative or uncomplimentary statements about the other, the document said.
    — Lorraine Mirabella, Baltimore Sun, 29 July 2022
  • Though the pollen gunk will pass, he's concerned by a contingent of Twitter trolls who've shared uncomplimentary reviews of his recent North American tour.
    — Jordan Runtagh, PEOPLE.com, 21 Jan. 2022
Definition of uncomplimentary
Adjective
  • This subsided with unusual speed, however, as cricket fans took instead to sharing the self-deprecatory jokes coming over the border.
    — The Economist, The Economist, 22 June 2019
  • Philipps has acquired her 1-million-and-growing Instagram followers through her self-deprecatory humor, raw honesty and vulnerability.
    — Sonja Haller, USA TODAY, 11 July 2018
Definition of deprecatory
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.

Browse Nearby Words

derogations
derogative
derogatory
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Derogative.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/derogative. Accessed 26 Sep. 2026.

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