derisory

/di'raisəri/

Thân thiện

The boss dismissed the derisory offer with a wave of his hand.

Definition

Adjective: 1. So small or insignificant as to be worthy only of scorn or laughter; ridiculously inadequate. This is the primary meaning, describing something (especially an amount of money, offer, or effort) that is so small or poor it is contemptible. 2. Expressing derision; mocking or scornful. This meaning is less common and overlaps with "derisive," describing a tone, comment, or attitude that shows ridicule.

Usage and Examples

• Adjective (Meaning 1: Ridiculously inadequate):

  • The company made a derisory offer for the land, which the owner immediately rejected.
  • After years of dedicated service, he received a derisory pay increase of just 1%.
  • The government's derisory investment in public transport has led to a crumbling system.

• Adjective (Meaning 2: Mocking):

  • He responded with a derisory snort, making his contempt perfectly clear.
  • Her derisory comments about his painting skills were both hurtful and unnecessary.

Advanced Usage

• "Derisory" vs. "Derisive": While both can mean "mocking," "derisory" is now far more frequently used to mean "laughably small or inadequate." "Derisive" is the standard adjective for describing scornful laughter or mockery (e.g., ).
• Collocations: The word often collocates with nouns related to amounts or proposals: a derisory .

Variants and Related Words

• Deride (verb): To express contempt for; to ridicule.
  • Critics derided the film as shallow and unoriginal.
• Derision (noun): Contemptuous ridicule or mockery.
  • His proposal was met with derision from the board.
• Derisive (adjective): Expressing contempt or ridicule.
  • The crowd let out a derisive cheer when the opposing player missed the shot.

Synonyms

• Laughable: So absurd it provokes laughter.
• Paltry: Ridiculously or insultingly small.
• Pathetic: Miserably inadequate; contemptible.
• Ridiculous: Deserving or inviting mockery.
• Negligible: So small or unimportant as to be not worth considering.

Antonyms

• Substantial: Of considerable importance, size, or worth.
• Adequate: Satisfactory or acceptable in quality or quantity.
• Generous: Larger or more plentiful than is usual or necessary.
• Respectable: Regarded by society as being proper, correct, or good; adequate or acceptable.

Học thuật

Adjective

1. incongruous; inviting ridicule
   • the absurd excuse that the dog ate his homework
   • that's a cockeyed idea
   • ask a nonsensical question and get a nonsensical answer
   • a contribution so small as to be laughable
   • it is ludicrous to call a cottage a mansion
   • a preposterous attempt to turn back the pages of history
   • her conceited assumption of universal interest in her rather dull children was ridiculous

Từ đồng nghĩa

• absurd
• cockeyed
• idiotic
• laughable
• ludicrous
• nonsensical
• preposterous
• ridiculous