derisory vs derisive :

derisory or derisive

Although “derisory” and “derisive” can both mean “laughable,” there are sometimes subtle distinctions made between them. “Derisory” is most often used to mean “worthy of being laughed at,” especially in the sense “laughably inadequate”: “Ethan made a derisory effort to clean the cat box while talking on his cell phone.” Sneering laughter is usually described as “derisive.”You might more unusually speak of an effort as “derisive,” but most people would think it odd to use “derisory” to describe the tone of someone’s laughter.

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Definitions

  • s  incongruous; inviting ridicule

  • s  abusing vocally; expressing contempt or ridicule
    derisive laughter
News & Articles

  • No follow-up bids for Fellaini and Baines, says Martinez
    (Reuters) - Everton manager Roberto Martinez says they have not received further bids from Manchester United for Marouane Fellaini and Leighton Baines. The Premier League champions offered a reported 28 million pounds earlier this week for Belgium midfielder Fellaini and England defender Baines, bids which Everton rejected and at the time said were "derisory and insulting". ...
    Aug. 22, 2013 - Reuters via Yahoo! News
  • Soccer-No follow-up bids for Fellaini and Baines, says Martinez
    Aug 22 (Reuters) - Everton manager Roberto Martinez says they have not received further bids from Manchester United for Marouane Fellaini and Leighton Baines. The Premier League champions offered a reported 28 million pounds ($43.93 million) earlier this week for Belgium midfielder Fellaini and England defender Baines, bids which Everton rejected and at the time said were "derisory and insulting ...
    Aug. 22, 2013 - Reuters via Yahoo! News
  • Martinez: Manchester United's Baines and Fellaini bid a waste of time
    The Toffees called the combined 28 million pound bid for the star pair "derisory" and "insulting," and their manager wants a renewed focus on the Premier League fixtures to come.
    Aug. 20, 2013 - Goal.com via Yahoo! Sports

  • James Harden Mocked the OKC Thunder for Drafting Steven Adams
    Former OKC Thunder and current Houston Rockets star James Harden found the Thunder’s decision to draft Steven Adams with the 12th pick hilarious. Once the Internet reaction grew too big, Harden appeared to delete his derisive tweet , and pretended it never happened . Tsk, tsk, tsk, … Per the Sporting News : “Looks like Houston Rockets guard James Harden wasn’t too impressed with his former team ...
    June 28, 2013 - Slam
  • Talent agency CAA mocked in ads by rival WME
    Talent agency Creative Artists Agency was the subject of a derisive advertising blitz by rival William Morris Endeavor on Tuesday.        
    June 12, 2013 - Los Angeles Times
  • Standard & Poor’s Lifts US Credit Outlook to ’Stable,’ USD/JPY Jumps
    Standard & Poor’s Financial Services, the only one of the three major US credit rating agencies, announced today that it had upgraded the United States’ sovereign debt outlook from ‘negative’ to ‘stable,’ the first alteration to the world’s largest economy’s credit rating since it lost its esteemed ‘AAA’ rating in August 2011. The downgrade, which prompted even more derisive politics of the US ...
    June 10, 2013 - Daily FX