Standard Lemma guide

derisive

adj · noun · 4 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot

Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.

Sound

Pronunciation

Each Play button uses your device's default local English voice, or a natural local fallback. The selected voice name appears after playback. This is synthesized speech, not a source recording.

  • UK: /dɪˈɹaɪ.sɪv/
  • UK: /dɪˈɹɪ.sɪv/
  • Canada, US: /dɪˈraɪsɪv/
  • Canada, US: [dɪˈraɪsɪv]
  • Canada, US: [dɪˈrʌɪsɪv]
  • US: Recorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.
  • Australia: Recorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.
  • rhymes with -aɪsɪv
  • CMU ARPABET: D ER0 IH1 S IH0 V Digits mark lexical stress: 1 primary, 2 secondary, 0 unstressed.
  • CMU ARPABET 2: D ER0 AY1 S IH0 V Digits mark lexical stress: 1 primary, 2 secondary, 0 unstressed.

1

adj

Meaning 1

Expressing or characterized by derision; mocking; ridiculing.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Examples

  • The critic's review of the film was derisive.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

2

adj

Meaning 2

Deserving or provoking derision or ridicule.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Examples

  • The plot of the film was so derisive that the audience began to jeer.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

3

noun

Meaning 3

A derisive remark.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: rare

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

4

adjective satellite

Meaning 4

abusing vocally; expressing contempt or ridicule

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

Examples

  • derisive laughter
  • a jeering crowd
  • her mocking smile
  • taunting shouts of `coward' and `sissy'

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: gibelike, jeering, mocking, taunting

Antonyms: none provided

History

Etymology

From the participle stem of Latin dērīdeō (“to deride”) + -ive.

Across languages

Translations

32 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • Bulgarian: насмешлив (nasmešliv) — expressing or characterized by derision; mocking
  • Bulgarian: подигравателен (podigravatelen) — expressing or characterized by derision; mocking
  • Czech: posměšný — expressing or characterized by derision; mocking
  • Czech: výsměšný — expressing or characterized by derision; mocking
  • Czech: pohrdavý — expressing or characterized by derision; mocking
  • Finnish: pilkallinen — expressing or characterized by derision; mocking
  • French: dérisoire — expressing or characterized by derision; mocking
  • French: ridiculeironique — expressing or characterized by derision; mocking
  • French: moqueur — expressing or characterized by derision; mocking
  • Galician: burlón — expressing or characterized by derision; mocking
  • German: spöttisch — expressing or characterized by derision; mocking
  • German: höhnisch — expressing or characterized by derision; mocking
  • Greek: χλευαστικός (chlevastikós) — expressing or characterized by derision; mocking
  • Hungarian: gúnyos — expressing or characterized by derision; mocking
  • Hungarian: gúnyolódó — expressing or characterized by derision; mocking
  • Icelandic: háðslegur — expressing or characterized by derision; mocking
  • Polish: szyderczy — expressing or characterized by derision; mocking
  • Polish: drwiący — expressing or characterized by derision; mocking
  • Portuguese: escarnecedor — expressing or characterized by derision; mocking
  • Russian: насме́шливый (nasméšlivyj) — expressing or characterized by derision; mocking
  • Spanish: irrisorio — expressing or characterized by derision; mocking
  • Swedish: skrattretande — expressing or characterized by derision; mocking
  • Turkish: alaycı — expressing or characterized by derision; mocking
  • Bulgarian: смехотворен (smehotvoren) — deserving or provoking derision
  • Czech: směšný — deserving or provoking derision
  • German: lächerlich — deserving or provoking derision
  • Greek: χλευαστικός (chlevastikós) — deserving or provoking derision
  • Hungarian: gúnyos — deserving or provoking derision
  • Hungarian: gúnyolódó — deserving or provoking derision
  • Portuguese: ridículo — deserving or provoking derision
  • Russian: смехотво́рный (smexotvórnyj) — deserving or provoking derision
  • Spanish: irrisorio — deserving or provoking derision