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# derisive

adjective (derisive, more derisive, most derisive)

«derisive» in the English dictionary: everyday — its meanings, how the lessons use it, and examples, each with its tree on Mova.

## Everyday

1. Showing that you think someone or something is stupid or worthless; mocking: «a derisive laugh». [tree →](https://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://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/D/derisive/#m2)

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

## On Mova

- [Trees and pragmatics of «derisive» in the school dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/D/derisive/): every meaning and example parsed by Mova, with its dependency tree and frames.
- [«derisive» in the school dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/derisive.html) on Mova free.