as in insulting
intended to make a person or thing seem of little importance or value
the reviewer used the pejorative word "versifier" to refer to the writer, whose poems had struck a responsive chord with the general public
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of pejorative
All of the plaintiffs accused Robinson's wife, Frances Robinson, who is also named as a defendant, of perpetuating a hostile work environment by screaming at them and using ethnically pejorative language.
—
Phil Helsel, NBC news, 8 May 2025
But by and large, being ‘on the beach’ remains a pejorative label.
—Conor O'Neill, New York Times, 28 Apr. 2025
Trash, elevated or otherwise, need not be a pejorative.
—Louis Peitzman, Vulture, 26 Dec. 2024
In conservative circles, the pejorative label stuck.
—Meg James, Los Angeles Times, 23 Dec. 2024
See All Example Sentences for pejorative
Phil Helsel, NBC news, 8 May 2025
But by and large, being ‘on the beach’ remains a pejorative label.
—Conor O'Neill, New York Times, 28 Apr. 2025
Trash, elevated or otherwise, need not be a pejorative.
—Louis Peitzman, Vulture, 26 Dec. 2024
In conservative circles, the pejorative label stuck.
—Meg James, Los Angeles Times, 23 Dec. 2024
See All Example Sentences for pejorative
Recent Examples of Synonyms for pejorative
Adjective
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Conversations revealed an ongoing dialogue that was not only deeply insulting to Read, but morally offensive to women broadly.—
Gemma Allen,
Forbes.com,
25 June 2025
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Trump’s orders are insulting to state and local officials, but especially to the Marines.—
Tom Zirpoli,
Baltimore Sun,
17 June 2025
Adjective
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The sports community has rallied around Arizona Diamondbacks star Ketel Marte after a fan brought him to tears with derogatory comments about his late mother during the team’s 4-1 win over the Chicago White Sox at Rate Field on Tuesday.—
Ryan Canfield,
FOXNews.com,
26 June 2025
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Diamondbacks All-Star second baseman Ketel Marte was seen in tears on the field after a spectator yelled a derogatory comment about his late mother during an at-bat in Arizona's game against the White Sox on Tuesday night in Chicago.—
CBS News,
CBS News,
25 June 2025
Adjective
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The best way to safeguard yourself from malicious links is to have strong antivirus software installed on all your devices.—
Kurt Knutsson,
FOXNews.com,
28 June 2025
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The first-degree arson charges and malicious damage by explosive charges are connected to the damage to two homes on each side of Barnette’s property.—
Jeff A. Chamer,
Charlotte Observer,
27 June 2025
Adjective
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But the racial order of the day also made these jobs, which were physically challenging to begin with, especially demeaning, humiliating, and fraught with danger.—
Matthew Wills,
JSTOR Daily,
21 June 2025
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Being high and coerced into this demeaning lifestyle.—
Patrick Ryan,
USA Today,
11 June 2025
Adjective
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The 2023 Economic Report Of The President published in March of 2023 was relatively disparaging of cryptoassets and DLTs.—
Lawrence Wintermeyer,
Forbes,
5 Dec. 2024
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Prior to appearing on Cunningham's show on Monday, Huggins made more disparaging remarks about Xavier.—
Emily DeLetter,
The Enquirer,
10 May 2023
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
Adjective
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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
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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
Adjective
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That’s fine by an administration that seems basically contemptuous of the very concept of due process.—
New York Daily News Editorial Board,
New York Daily News,
31 May 2025
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Think of the public dissection of and collective sneer toward pop darlings suffering mental health crises, like Britney Spears or Lindsay Lohan, or the contemptuous treatment of Hillary Clinton during her 2016 presidential run.—
Maya Salam,
New York Times,
30 Apr. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Pejorative.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/pejorative. Accessed 3 Jul. 2025.
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