derision
noun
de·ri·sion
di-ˈri-zhən 
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Where does derision come from?
Derision shares part of its origin with the words ridiculous and risible; all may be traced to the Latin verb ridēre (“to laugh”). From the time derision entered the English language in the 14th century, it has suggested laughter, albeit of a mocking or scornful variety. It may also be used to indicate an object of scornful laughter—that is, a laughingstock—as in the line from Lamentations 3:14 of the King James Version of the bible: “I was a derision to all my people.”
Synonyms
Examples of derision in a Sentence
My remarks were anodyne, but some other snippets of marginalia were shrieks of derision …
—
Paul Theroux, Granta 44, Summer 1993
Britain had its boffins, working researchers subject to the derision of intellectual gentlemen.
—James Gleick, Genius: The Life & Science of Richard Feynman, 1992
… discussion, laughter, lecturing, but no shouts or threats, no yardsticks banging for silence, no words of shame or derision.
—Lorene Cary, Black Ice, 1991
The whole idea of Camelot excites derision. In fact, I am sure Kennedy would have derided it himself. No one at the time ever thought of his Washington as Camelot.
—Arthur M. Schlesinger, Jr., The Cycles of American History, 1986
One of the students laughed in derision at my error.
The team's awful record has made it an object of derision in the league.
“Nerd” is a term of derision.
Paul Theroux, Granta 44, Summer 1993
Britain had its boffins, working researchers subject to the derision of intellectual gentlemen.
—James Gleick, Genius: The Life & Science of Richard Feynman, 1992
… discussion, laughter, lecturing, but no shouts or threats, no yardsticks banging for silence, no words of shame or derision.
—Lorene Cary, Black Ice, 1991
The whole idea of Camelot excites derision. In fact, I am sure Kennedy would have derided it himself. No one at the time ever thought of his Washington as Camelot.
—Arthur M. Schlesinger, Jr., The Cycles of American History, 1986
One of the students laughed in derision at my error.
The team's awful record has made it an object of derision in the league.
“Nerd” is a term of derision.
Recent Examples on the Web
To watch elite women warriors fold in among special-forces bros without needing help or rescue, or becoming objects of desire, or subjects of derision, or much of anything notable at all besides equals, is borderline radical.
—Taylor Antrim, Vogue, 25 Oct. 2024
Almost immediately, the title became a term of derision, symbolizing the shallow version of feminism sold by the era’s marketing departments.
—Nate Jones, Vulture, 20 Aug. 2024
Laughter is the best medicine—for the ones who are doing the laughing—but how about for those who are the objects of derision?
—Pratiksha Thangam Menon, JSTOR Daily, 18 Aug. 2023
Instead, Miliband was pressed in TV debates to admit that Labour had overspent, and his denial provoked widespread derision.
—Jonathan Hopkin, Foreign Affairs, 18 May 2015
See all Example Sentences for derision 
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Taylor Antrim, Vogue, 25 Oct. 2024
Almost immediately, the title became a term of derision, symbolizing the shallow version of feminism sold by the era’s marketing departments.
—Nate Jones, Vulture, 20 Aug. 2024
Laughter is the best medicine—for the ones who are doing the laughing—but how about for those who are the objects of derision?
—Pratiksha Thangam Menon, JSTOR Daily, 18 Aug. 2023
Instead, Miliband was pressed in TV debates to admit that Labour had overspent, and his denial provoked widespread derision.
—Jonathan Hopkin, Foreign Affairs, 18 May 2015
See all Example Sentences for derision
Dictionary Entries Near derision
Cite this Entry
“Derision.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/derision. Accessed 28 Nov. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
derision
noun
de·ri·sion
di-ˈrizh-ən
: scornful ridicule
derisive
adjective
-ˈrī-siv
derisively
adverb
derisiveness
noun
derisory
adjective
-ˈrī-sə-rē
-zə-
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