as in insulting
intended to make a person or thing seem of little importance or value
fans made a steady stream of derogatory remarks about the players on the visiting team
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of derogatory
The video from a nearby camera phone showed Crow-Armstrong using a vulgar phrase that involved one of his body parts and calling the woman a derogatory name.
—
Jon Greenberg, New York Times, 22 May 2026
In 2007, an Arab officer accused Feldman and other officers of using racist slurs and making derogatory jokes about his identity.
—Aaron Leibowitz, Miami Herald, 20 May 2026
The last topic was Kash Patel celebrating the USA hockey gold medal in the locker room (making fun of him, derogatory).
—Kate Lavelle, Glamour, 18 May 2026
Lee alleged an abundant anti-Asian sentiment in Price’s office during her tenure, including derogatory comments by supervisors and Price herself.
—Chase Hunter, Mercury News, 14 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for derogatory
Jon Greenberg, New York Times, 22 May 2026
In 2007, an Arab officer accused Feldman and other officers of using racist slurs and making derogatory jokes about his identity.
—Aaron Leibowitz, Miami Herald, 20 May 2026
The last topic was Kash Patel celebrating the USA hockey gold medal in the locker room (making fun of him, derogatory).
—Kate Lavelle, Glamour, 18 May 2026
Lee alleged an abundant anti-Asian sentiment in Price’s office during her tenure, including derogatory comments by supervisors and Price herself.
—Chase Hunter, Mercury News, 14 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for derogatory
Recent Examples of Synonyms for derogatory
Adjective
-
Pratt came in with an insulting offer and needed to be pushed.—
Heather Merrick,
Hartford Courant,
11 June 2026
-
The New York Times last week reported about his relationships with previous girlfriends, some of whom viewed him positively and others who described him as volatile and insulting.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
8 June 2026
Adjective
-
Not in the pejorative, party girl sense, but in a cool, chaotically chic way.—
Kaleigh Werner,
Footwear News,
12 June 2026
-
These aren’t just NIMBY complaints—not in the pejorative sense, at least.—
IEEE Spectrum,
IEEE Spectrum,
7 May 2026
Adjective
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Some of the women interviewed for the article claimed that Platner could be demeaning to women and, in at least one case, even physically threatening.—
Selina Wang,
ABC News,
7 June 2026
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Despite the demeaning work, Laura, a local woman, has risen to middle management through unyielding determination.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
19 May 2026
Adjective
-
The malicious prosecution claim was dismissed after Levine’s attorneys failed to object to a motion for summary judgment to dismiss the final charge.—
Jack Harvel,
Kansas City Star,
11 June 2026
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The Knicks also got their revenge on Wembanyama, who went unpenalized for a malicious, above-the-shoulders shove on Brunson in Game 3.—
Kristian Winfield,
New York Daily News,
11 June 2026
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
-
While Trump’s talk of a possible NATO pullout dates back years, the comments to The Telegraph newspaper in the U.K., published Wednesday, were among the clearest and most disparaging yet — suggesting that the fracture has deepened perhaps to a point of no return.—
Jill Lawless,
Los Angeles Times,
1 Apr. 2026
Adjective
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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
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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
Adjective
-
Nowak's father called his son's treatment by police inhumane and degrading.—
Holly Williams,
CBS News,
3 June 2026
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The way he was treated was inhumane and degrading.—
Efrat Lachter,
FOXNews.com,
3 June 2026
Adjective
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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
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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
Cite this Entry
“Derogatory.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/derogatory. Accessed 17 Jun. 2026.
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