deride

verb

de·​ride di-ˈrīd How to pronounce deride (audio)
dē-
derided; deriding

transitive verb

1
: to laugh at or insult contemptuously
got derided by a carnival clown
2
: to subject to usually bitter or contemptuous ridicule or criticism
politicians deriding their opponents
: to express a lack of respect or approval of
were derided as the weaker sex
derider noun
deridingly adverb

Did you know?

Deride is a combination of the prefix de- ("make lower") and ridēre, a Latin verb meaning "to laugh." Ridēre echoes in other English words as well, some common and some obscure. In the former category we have ridicule and ridiculous. Ridicule functions as both verb ("to make fun of") and noun ("the act of making fun of"), while ridiculous describes what arouses or deserves ridicule or mockery. Obscure ridēre words include arride (it has an obsolete meaning of "to smile or laugh at," and also means "to please, gratify, or delight") and irrision, a synonym of derision, the close noun relation of deride. Also in the category of obscure ridēre words is risorius; this medical term refers to a narrow band of facial muscle fibers that reach to the corners of the mouth to make smiling possible.

Choose the Right Synonym for deride

ridicule, deride, mock, taunt mean to make an object of laughter of.

ridicule implies a deliberate often malicious belittling.

consistently ridiculed everything she said

deride suggests contemptuous and often bitter ridicule.

derided their efforts to start their own business

mock implies scorn often ironically expressed as by mimicry or sham deference.

youngsters began to mock the helpless wino

taunt suggests jeeringly provoking insult or challenge.

hometown fans taunted the visiting team

Examples of deride in a Sentence

my brothers derided our efforts, but were forced to eat their words when we won first place
Recent Examples on the Web The application had long been derided as too complicated and too labor-intensive for families, asking for detailed tax information. Danielle Douglas-Gabriel, Washington Post, 11 Mar. 2024 While Black hair is being celebrated now more than ever—on magazine covers, runways, and red carpets—it’s also still being derided. Leah Faye Cooper, Vogue, 7 Mar. 2024 Villanueva’s critics derided it as a thinly veiled way to target political enemies. Harriet Ryan, Los Angeles Times, 28 Feb. 2024 This time, Victorian-era stylization indicates a bigger budget than the one The Favourite devoted to deriding the Stuart dynasty. Armond White, National Review, 23 Feb. 2024 Millennials and Gen Zers (Louis himself is a Millennial) are sometimes derided for being self-obsessed. Tope Folarin, The Atlantic, 29 Feb. 2024 Trump’s claim of absolute immunity for his actions as president has been derided by many legal experts. David G. Savage, Los Angeles Times, 28 Feb. 2024 With the Electronic Bard, Lem derides the worry that our own human creativity will be dwarfed. Rivka Galchen, The New Yorker, 27 Feb. 2024 Other recent chaos included the super fast ouster of Liz Truss as Prime Minister after her fiscal and monetary policies got derided. Simon Constable, Forbes, 25 Feb. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'deride.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Latin deridēre, from de- + ridēre to laugh

First Known Use

circa 1526, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of deride was circa 1526

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Dictionary Entries Near deride

Cite this Entry

“Deride.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/deride. Accessed 19 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

deride

verb
de·​ride di-ˈrīd How to pronounce deride (audio)
derided; deriding
: to laugh at scornfully : make fun of
derider noun
deridingly adverb

More from Merriam-Webster on deride

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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