[Mova](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/) · [this page in HTML](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/derisive.html)

[home](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/) / [dictionaries](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/) / [The school dictionary](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/) / derisive

[← D](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/D/)

# 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 →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/D/derisive/#m1)

2) (less common) Deserving to be laughed at; ridiculous (better said «derisory»). [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/D/derisive/#m2)

### 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 →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/D/derisive/#x1)
- "You? Win a race?" she said with a derisive snort. [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/D/derisive/#x2)
- The crowd made derisive noises at the other team. [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/D/derisive/#x3)
- Derisive comments online can be a kind of bullying. [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/D/derisive/#x4)
- The witch's derisive cackle echoed in the cave. [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/D/derisive/#x5)
- He ignored their derisive looks and kept practising. [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/D/derisive/#x6)

### 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](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/D/derisive/), each sentence with its dependency tree and frames.