Derisive

Simple meaning

Derisive means making fun of someone in a cruel or mocking way.

A derisive laugh is not a friendly laugh. It is a laugh that says: "You are silly. I look down on you."

Detailed meaning

When someone is derisive, they show three things at once:

• Mockery — they make fun of you.
• Scorn — they look down on you.
• Disrespect — often hidden behind a smile or a small remark.

It's sharper than rude. It's colder than teasing. The word almost always carries a moral edge — when you call something derisive, you're also signalling it was unkind.

Where to use it

Use derisive when you're describing:

• A tone of voice, smile, comment, or laugh — the behaviour, not the person.
• A passage in writing — articles, reviews, stories where someone speaks with scorn.
• How a character behaved in a film, book, or a real moment that left a mark.

Where not to use it

Don't reach for derisive for ordinary jokes between friends. It's a heavy, formal word — using it in a friendly setting sounds dramatic.

Also be careful calling a whole person derisive. Usually you describe their laugh, comment, tone, or article — not their identity.

5 example sentences

1. He gave a derisive smile when she shared her dream.
2. The crowd's derisive cheers made the new player nervous.
3. There was a derisive tone in his email that hurt the whole team.
4. She ignored his derisive comments and continued her work calmly.
5. The article was full of derisive remarks about the new policy.

Common mistakes

Similar & opposite words

Similar (synonyms)

Opposite (antonyms)

Memory trick

A short story to remember it

When Meera read her first poem aloud at the office open mic, one colleague gave a small, derisive laugh — just loud enough for the table to hear.

She felt the heat rise in her face. She wanted to disappear.

But that night, she didn't stop writing. She wrote two more poems. The next week, she read again. And again. A year later, a small magazine published her work.

She still remembers the laugh. Not with anger — with gratitude. It had taught her the difference between sharp and steady.

"Derisive laughter says more about the person laughing than the person being laughed at."

Practice quiz

Pick the best option for each. Three quick questions.

Summary

Derisive = mocking, scornful — usually through a tone, smile, comment, or laugh. Use it carefully. It's a sharp, formal word that almost always describes behaviour, not identity.