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
Following the coordinated ‘drop’ of Lively’s fantastical Civil Rights Department Complaint and an explosive New York Times article, Wayfarer and Baldoni became objects of public scorn and derision.
—Tatiana Siegel, Variety, 21 Mar. 2025
In the Senate, the decision last week by Minority Leader Sen. Chuck Schumer (D-NY) to vote for the Republicans’ continuing resolution to avert a government shutdown has been met with widespread derision and disbelief — even by Trump himself.
—Ted Johnson, Deadline, 19 Mar. 2025
The book version of Bridget has come in for derision as an embarrassing relic of postfeminism, screwing up even the most basic personal and professional tasks, and fixated on her thigh circumference and her office crushes.
—Sophie Gilbert, The Atlantic, 7 Feb. 2025
By contrast, George W. Bush faced derision for his tentative response after Hurricane Katrina flooded large swaths of New Orleans in 2005.
—Adam Nagourney, New York Times, 24 Jan. 2025
See All Example Sentences for derision
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Tatiana Siegel, Variety, 21 Mar. 2025
In the Senate, the decision last week by Minority Leader Sen. Chuck Schumer (D-NY) to vote for the Republicans’ continuing resolution to avert a government shutdown has been met with widespread derision and disbelief — even by Trump himself.
—Ted Johnson, Deadline, 19 Mar. 2025
The book version of Bridget has come in for derision as an embarrassing relic of postfeminism, screwing up even the most basic personal and professional tasks, and fixated on her thigh circumference and her office crushes.
—Sophie Gilbert, The Atlantic, 7 Feb. 2025
By contrast, George W. Bush faced derision for his tentative response after Hurricane Katrina flooded large swaths of New Orleans in 2005.
—Adam Nagourney, New York Times, 24 Jan. 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 1 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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