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
Trump’s proposed geographic switcheroo was greeted with widespread derision in Mexico and throughout Latin America.
—Patrick J. McDonnell, Los Angeles Times, 8 Jan. 2025
The gambit flopped, garnering poor ratings, critical derision, and internal strife.
—Jon Blistein, Rolling Stone, 11 Dec. 2024
This seemed like one hell of a mission for someone earning just above minimum wage.
or millennia, the figure of the guard has inspired as much derision as demand.
—Jasper Craven, Harper's Magazine, 23 July 2024
Gobert, the four-time Defensive Player of the Year in the NBA and a frequent subject of derision among his critics, was taken out of the starting lineup by France coach Vincent Collet and only played three minutes.
—Sam Amick, The Athletic, 8 Aug. 2024
See all Example Sentences for derision 
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Patrick J. McDonnell, Los Angeles Times, 8 Jan. 2025
The gambit flopped, garnering poor ratings, critical derision, and internal strife.
—Jon Blistein, Rolling Stone, 11 Dec. 2024
This seemed like one hell of a mission for someone earning just above minimum wage.
or millennia, the figure of the guard has inspired as much derision as demand.
—Jasper Craven, Harper's Magazine, 23 July 2024
Gobert, the four-time Defensive Player of the Year in the NBA and a frequent subject of derision among his critics, was taken out of the starting lineup by France coach Vincent Collet and only played three minutes.
—Sam Amick, The Athletic, 8 Aug. 2024
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 30 Jan. 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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