If you describe something such as an amount of money as derisory, you are emphasizing that it is so small or inadequate that it seems silly or not worth considering.
[disapproval]
She was being paid what I considered a derisory amount of money.
Were the contracts that were offered to the players as derisory as we have been ledto believe?
Synonyms: ridiculous, insulting, outrageous, ludicrous More Synonyms of derisory
2. adjective [usually ADJECTIVE noun]
Derisory means the same as derisive.
...derisory remarks about the police.
derisory in British English
(dɪˈraɪsərɪ, -zərɪ)
adjective
1.
subject to or worthy of derision, esp because of being ridiculously small or inadequate
2. another word for derisive
Examples of 'derisory' in a sentence
derisory
Shortly afterwards they issued a Secondary Statement that described his comments as ` derisory ' and `unhelpful'.
Magnus Mills THE SCHEME FOR FULL EMPLOYMENT (2003)
I expected the usual initial derisory offer of compensation, which would be unacceptable.
Sara MacDonald SEA MUSIC (2003)
He paused when his eye fell on the chrome scaffolding against the wall, his mouth curling in a derisory sneer.
Stuart Harrison BETTER THAN THIS (2003)
(adjective)
Definition
too small or inadequate to be considered seriously
I was being paid a derisory amount of money.
Synonyms
ridiculous
It was an absolutely ridiculous decision.
insulting
outrageous
The prices these places charge are absolutely outrageous.
ludicrous
It's a completely ludicrous idea.
preposterous
The whole idea was preposterous.
laughable
She claimed that the allegations were `laughable'.
contemptible
Additional synonyms
in the sense of laughable
Definition
ridiculous because so obviously inadequate or unsuccessful
She claimed that the allegations were `laughable'.
Synonyms
ridiculous,
absurd,
ludicrous,
preposterous,
farcical,
nonsensical,
derisory,
risible (formal),
derisive,
worthy of scorn
in the sense of ludicrous
Definition
absurd or ridiculous
It's a completely ludicrous idea.
Synonyms
ridiculous,
crazy (informal),
absurd,
preposterous,
odd,
funny,
comic,
silly,
laughable,
farcical,
outlandish,
incongruous,
comical,
zany,
nonsensical,
droll,
burlesque,
cockamamie (slang, US)
in the sense of outrageous
Definition
shocking and socially or morally unacceptable
The prices these places charge are absolutely outrageous.