derisive

«derisive» in Mova's school dictionary: Showing that you think someone or something is stupid or… — its meaning for a pupil, its sense in the lessons and examples.

part of speech

adjective (derisive, more derisive, most derisive)

meaning for a pupil

1) Showing that you think someone or something is stupid or worthless; mocking: «a derisive laugh». tree →

2) (less common) Deserving to be laughed at; ridiculous (better said «derisory»). tree →

sense in the lessons

Used in stories to describe a sneering laugh, snort or comment from a bully or villain. It tells the reader the character is unkind or scornful. Phrases: «a derisive laugh», «a derisive snort», «derisive comments».

examples

• The bully gave a derisive laugh. tree →
• "You? Win a race?" she said with a derisive snort. tree →
• The crowd made derisive noises at the other team. tree →
• Derisive comments online can be a kind of bullying. tree →
• The witch's derisive cackle echoed in the cave. tree →
• He ignored their derisive looks and kept practising. tree →

note

Adverb: «derisively». Close but different: «derisory» usually means «too small to be taken seriously» («a derisory pay rise»). Formal; in speech say «mocking», «sneering».

Trees and pragmatics

Every meaning and example of «derisive» parsed by Mova, each sentence with its dependency tree and frames.