1
as in joke
a person or thing that is made fun of
after yet another last place finish, the team became nothing more than a derision to all but its most loyal fans
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2
as in ridicule
the making of unkind jokes as a way of showing one's scorn for someone or something
their absurd behavior on the awards show became a source of derision for comedians
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Recent Examples of derision
So far, the project has been met with both amusement and derision from members of the public.
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Marco Rubio, Newsweek, 1 Nov. 2024
The subject of both admiration and derision, Comedian has twice been torn off the wall and eaten.
—News Desk, Artforum, 25 Oct. 2024
Hoover’s book, which is loosely based on her own experiences with domestic violence growing up, was met with equal acclaim and derision when it was released in 2016.
—Coleman Spilde, Vulture, 12 Aug. 2024
The most illustrative case might be Edgar Renteria, who was a 32-year-old shortstop coming off a steeply declining 2008 season when Sabean gave him a two-year, $18.5 million contract that industry observers met with instant derision.
—Andrew Baggarly, The Athletic, 12 Dec. 2024
See all Example Sentences for derision 
Marco Rubio, Newsweek, 1 Nov. 2024
The subject of both admiration and derision, Comedian has twice been torn off the wall and eaten.
—News Desk, Artforum, 25 Oct. 2024
Hoover’s book, which is loosely based on her own experiences with domestic violence growing up, was met with equal acclaim and derision when it was released in 2016.
—Coleman Spilde, Vulture, 12 Aug. 2024
The most illustrative case might be Edgar Renteria, who was a 32-year-old shortstop coming off a steeply declining 2008 season when Sabean gave him a two-year, $18.5 million contract that industry observers met with instant derision.
—Andrew Baggarly, The Athletic, 12 Dec. 2024
See all Example Sentences for derision
Recent Examples of Synonyms for derision
Noun
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Humor is a helpful tool in dealing with tension and stress, so making jokes about an incident that can help manage the feelings of cognitive dissonance and helplessness news like this can elicit.Callum Booth, Forbes, 13 Jan. 2025
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Speaking over Zoom, Vidal told me that in 2019 many people took Trump’s suggestion about buying Greenland as a joke.John Cassidy, The New Yorker, 13 Jan. 2025
Noun
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While Woody Johnson is on the receiving end of much ridicule from assorted VOS Gasbags and mouths from other media precincts, he is rarely given credit for presiding over the NFL’s most entertaining reality show.Bob Raissman, New York Daily News, 11 Jan. 2025
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The mantra Jones put forth for the 2024 campaign went on to become an easy target for ridicule.Saad Yousuf, The Athletic, 8 Jan. 2025
Noun
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The high-net-worth (HNW) and ultra-high-net-worth (UHNW) customers that Hermès targets are not interested in dupes.Pamela N. Danziger, Forbes, 5 Jan. 2025
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Advertisement Long linked to a player like Washington’s Jonas Valanciunas, a target for the team this summer in free agency, it’s become clear that the Lakers’ needs to get bigger aren’t as important to them as their desires to get faster, more athletic and more dynamic.Dan Woike, Los Angeles Times, 5 Jan. 2025
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Cite this Entry
“Derision.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/derision. Accessed 17 Jan. 2025.
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