Word.ws English Dictionary

How to use derisive in a sentence

15 example sentences · adjective, noun

Derisive means expressing or characterized by derision; mocking; ridiculing. Example: “The critic's review of the film was derisive.”

Examples of derisive by meaning

adjectiveExpressing or characterized by derision; mocking; ridiculing.

  • The critic's review of the film was derisive.
  • Johnson shook his head, a derisive grin ticking the corners of his mouth.1970, Wally Ferris, Across 110th, page 69
  • Tripp is riding to school with a bunch of other kids when a classmate pulls up alongside the bus driving a sweet, tricked-out truck, attractive young lady at his side, and shoots Tripp a derisive look.2017 January 12, Jesse Hassenger, “A literal monster truck is far from the stupidest thing about Monster Trucks”, in The Onion AV Club...

adjectiveDeserving or provoking derision or ridicule.

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

nounA derisive remark.

  • Indeed, the power inherent in the labels attributed to them has repeatedly transformed these terms from allegedly scientific ones into colloquial derisives.2017, Bogdadn Lesnik, Countering Discrimination in Social Work

More sentences with derisive

  • Every point and counterpoint is peppered with derisive terms such as "Windoze," "File Mangler," and "PeeCees."1986, PC Communications Corporation, PC Magazine, The Independent Guide to IBM-standard Personal Computing · Volume 15, page 85. From the entry Windoze
  • Haunch Paunch and Jowl—so that's the derisive picture the radicals had drawn of me.1924 July [1923 August], Samuel Badisch Ornitz, “Fifth Period”, in Haunch Paunch and Jowl, eighth printing, New York, N.Y.: Boni and…. From the entry paunch
  • In title, Trumpwave may once have evoked a certain ironic response, to be interpreted as derisive or polysomic.2019, Emile Frankel, Hearing the Cloud: Can Music Help Reimagine the Future?. From the entry Trumpwave
  • And all that remains of August '68 is a derisive nickname for the only real Communists left in the Communist Party.2006, Tom Stoppard, Rock 'n' Roll, London: Faber and Faber, →ISBN. From the entry tankie
  • Matisse coined the name Cubism as a derisive joke.2003 March 3, The New Yorker. From the entry cubism
  • Indeed, "smoke-wagon" was commonly their derisive designation.[1958 November 18 (date delivered), Harry A. Williams, “Accomplishments in Air Pollution Control by the Automobile Industry”, in…. From the entry smoke wagon
  • Simon broke off and turned to Piggy who was looking at him with an expression of derisive incomprehension.1954, William Golding, Lord of the Flies. From the entry incomprehension
  • Everyone else shifted uncomfortably as this guy continued his derisive laughter and proclaimed my quest the most idiotic thing he'd heard in his life.2005, Sean Dooley, The Big Twitch, Sydney: Allen and Unwin, page 131. From the entry idiotic
  • The derisive reference to "womanish tears" demonstrates that his antifeminine bias was as extreme as that of most Jewish sages, including Maimonides.2005, Jay Y. Gonen, Yahweh versus Yahweh: the enigma of Jewish history. From the entry antifeminine
  • And moreover she was convinced that her mother, secretly very flattered and delighted by the visit, was adopting a derisive attitude in order to 'show off' before her daughter.1911, Arnold Bennett, Hilda Lessways. From the entry sneap

Meaning of derisive

  1. adjective Expressing or characterized by derision; mocking; ridiculing.
  2. adjective Deserving or provoking derision or ridicule.
  3. noun A derisive remark.

Full definition of derisive

Questions about derisive in a sentence

How do you use derisive in a sentence?
Derisive is used as an adjective and noun. For example: “The critic's review of the film was derisive.”
What is a short sentence with derisive?
“Indeed, "smoke-wagon" was commonly their derisive designation.”
What does derisive mean?
Derisive means expressing or characterized by derision; mocking; ridiculing.

Source and license

Adapted from Wiktionary: derisive (page history and authors) and the entries each sentence comes from. Text available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 license. Word.ws chose the sentences, left out offensive ones and quotations older than 1900, and marked the word in each. Wiktionary data of 2026-09-02.

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