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.”
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
That Veja wanted to shorten the chain was met with surprise, derision and even anger.
—Jasmin Malik Chua, Sourcing Journal, 4 Apr. 2025
On Sunday night at Northwest Stadium, even those die-hards branded with doubt and derision for years counted their blessings.
—Ben Standig, The Athletic, 30 Dec. 2024
Isolationism as a Slur In the postwar era, isolationism devolved from a coherent strategic perspective into a term of political derision.
—Andrew Latham, JSTOR Daily, 27 Mar. 2025
While some welcomed Meghan's return to public life, others piled on with online derision ranging from criticism of her personality to a seeming lack of authenticity by shooting the show at a set and not her real home.
—Anna Kaufman, USA Today, 26 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for derision
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Jasmin Malik Chua, Sourcing Journal, 4 Apr. 2025
On Sunday night at Northwest Stadium, even those die-hards branded with doubt and derision for years counted their blessings.
—Ben Standig, The Athletic, 30 Dec. 2024
Isolationism as a Slur In the postwar era, isolationism devolved from a coherent strategic perspective into a term of political derision.
—Andrew Latham, JSTOR Daily, 27 Mar. 2025
While some welcomed Meghan's return to public life, others piled on with online derision ranging from criticism of her personality to a seeming lack of authenticity by shooting the show at a set and not her real home.
—Anna Kaufman, USA Today, 26 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for derision
Cite this Entry
“Derision.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/derision. Accessed 22 Apr. 2025.
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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