Deride

Definition

To express contempt for or ridicule something or someone; to make fun of in a cruel or dismissive way.

Beyond the definition

Deride is contempt in action — the scoff, the eye-roll, the dismissive laugh. To deride is not just to disagree but to signal that the thing being derided isn't even worth taking seriously. It's a power move dressed as laughter, and it stings.

Origin & history

From Latin deridere ('to mock'), from de- ('down') + ridere ('to laugh'). To laugh down at something — dismissal through humor.

Example sentences

Illustrative sentences for learning, not verified community posts or sourced quotations.

Critics derided the film as shallow, though audiences loved it.

He was publicly derided for the proposal, which he thought was his best work.

How to use it

This entry uses a verb. Follow the examples for tense and any objects or prepositions it needs.

Choose “Deride” when the meaning fits your context: To express contempt for or ridicule something or someone; to make fun of in a cruel or dismissive way.

Synonyms

ridicule, mock, scoff at, scorn, belittle

Antonyms

praise, commend, respect, admire

Related words

• ridicule
• mock
• scorn
• lampoon

Deride vs mock

Mock can mean to imitate something with exaggeration, or simply to make fun of — and it can be affectionate as well as cruel. Deride is specifically contemptuous: to deride is to ridicule with dismissal, treating the target as not worth serious engagement. You can mock a friend warmly; you deride what you find beneath consideration. Mocking can be play; derision is always a put-down. Deride implies looking down; mock is more lateral.

Word in the Wild

See how this word appears in life, language and stories.

Illustrative sentences and imagined stories for learning — not verified sightings, interviews, or sourced quotations.

Fictional scene

Cruel singling out of individuals

Coworkers group together and point or look toward one colleague, unfairly marking them for a project's collective failure.

This dismissive and cruel targeting of an individual by the group is a form of derision. The image shows how people use exclusion and blame to express contempt, making fun of or belittling the person in a cruel, public way.

Image credit: Wordspun · AI-generated illustration

Questions about this word

What does "Deride" mean?

Deride is verb meaning: To ridicule or treat with contempt.. To express contempt for or ridicule something or someone; to make fun of in a cruel or dismissive way.

Where does the word "Deride" come from?

From Latin deridere ('to mock'), from de- ('down') + ridere ('to laugh'). To laugh down at something — dismissal through humor.