derisive
/dɪˈrʌɪsɪv
/ /dɪˈrʌɪzɪv/adjective
Expressing contempt or ridicule: he gave a harsh, derisive laugh...
- At the time, I took those words to heart, mostly because there was no voice in the media to simply laugh out loud in derisive response.
- If all goes well next weekend, his reign might end not with a bang but a derisive laugh.
- He gave a short, derisive laugh, but the gleam in his eyes was bitter.
Synonyms
mocking, ridiculing, jeering, scoffing, jibing, pillorying, teasing, derisory, snide;
disdainful, disparaging, denigratory, dismissive, slighting, detracting, contemptuous;
sneering, scornful, taunting, insulting;
caustic, scathing, sarcastic;
satirical, lampooning
informal snidey
British informal sarky
rare contumelious
Derivatives
derisiveness
- People who are pining for easy, one-syllable answers find this kind of uninformed derisiveness compelling.
- ‘Very helpful,’ she said, with a tint of derisiveness, and opened the door.
- In this context, accusation of metrical deformity by way of human infirmity accrues an unusually multi-valent derisiveness.
Origin
Mid 17th century: from derision, on the pattern of the pair decision, decisive.