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to deride

to deride

26 7.8
To make fun of someone in a cruel way
  • verb
  • /dɪˈraɪd/
translation icon : ridiculizar
  • She felt hurt when her classmates began to deride her for wearing vintage clothes.
  • much-derided
  • often derided
  • deride the idea

All they, they dismiss language, they deride language, they denigrate it.

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Examples

  • The critics will deride the film for its lack of originality.

  • The moderate Syrian resistance is often derided as being a completely fictitious entity.

    Academic text (2015)
  • Before you deride my offer...

  • ...they often derided him as...

  • I didn't mean to deride your party.

  • you find my relationship with MacArthur something to deride?

  • There are more effective methods of dealing with Yankees than deriding them in public.

    Fiction book (1992)
  • Critical legal studies scholars deride rights by asserting that rights merely protect entrenched interests in society.

    Academic text (1999)
  • Critics on the left derided the idea as illogical and unworkable.

    Academic text (1995)
  • Americans don't have their tongues chopped off for speaking their minds and deriding their president, as in other nations.

    Academic text (2003)

Synonyms

to criticize
vsto deride
701 3.3

To say what is wrong with someone or something

is harsher and targets contempt through ridicule rather than fault finding
to make fun of
vsto deride
  • Offensive
307 2.3

Laugh at someone or say things that make them feel embarrassed

is a more serious expression of contempt rather than playful teasing
to condemn
vsto deride
298 4.0

To strongly criticize someone or something publicly

is contempt expressed through mocking words rather than moral denunciation
to denounce
vsto deride
  • Formal
115 6.8

Publicly criticize someone or something strongly

is less formal and focuses on ridicule rather than formal condemnation
to ridicule
vsto deride
  • Offensive
108 4.6

To make someone look silly in a mean way so others laugh at them

focuses on showing contempt by mocking rather than other criticism
to scoff
vsto deride
57 6.5

To say or do things to show you do not respect someone

is similar but may be used in stronger or more active attacks
to demean
vsto deride
53 6.8

To make someone feel less respected or important

is more about open contempt and verbal mockery than dignity alone
to scorn
vsto deride
51 5.5

To show dislike and no respect for someone or something

expresses that contempt by mocking or openly insulting someone
to denigrate
vsto deride
48 7.8

To say bad things about someone without a good reason to make them seem less important

is more about contempt and mocking rather than unfair reputation damage
to belittle
vsto deride
45 5.0

To make someone or something seem not important

uses contempt and mockery rather than merely reducing perceived value
to vilify
vsto deride
43 7.9

To say or write bad things about someone to harm them

targets contempt through mockery rather than broad abusive campaigning
to disparage
vsto deride
28 7.7

To speak badly about someone or something to show little respect

focuses more on contempt and mocking speech rather than measured criticism
to revile
vsto deride
  • Offensive
23 8.2

To say angry, insulting things about someone or something

expresses contempt but not always with the same angry insult tone
to pillory
vsto deride
7 9.3

To criticize someone publicly to make them feel ashamed

is the act of contempt or mockery itself rather than the public display
to deprecate
vsto deride
  • Formal
1 7.6

Criticize someone or something, often in public

is contemptuous and mocking rather than simply expressing disapproval
to derogate
vsto deride
1 8.4

Say or do things that make someone seem less respected

is specifically about showing contempt by mocking or ridiculing
to bemock
vsto deride
  • Offensive
9.9

To make fun of someone in a cruel way

means the same and is interchangeable in many contexts
to pillorize
vsto deride
  • US
9.9

To say bad things about someone in public to make them feel ashamed

is similar but can be used privately as personal contempt

Antonyms

342 1.6

A polite remark that praises someone or something

161 1.0

Words or actions that show admiration for someone

How Mocking

to humiliate
  • Offensive
414 6.1
to deride
26 7.8
to taunt
  • Offensive
93 5.8
to mock
  • Offensive
209 3.4

Surface Forms

deride infinitive
derided past
derided past participle
deriding present participle
derides third person singular

Etymology

Deride comes from the Latin parts de- meaning 'down' and ridere meaning 'to laugh', and you can see the same root in ridicule. It originally meant to 'laugh down' someone, which is why to deride someone is to mock them or show contempt.