derisive
de·ri·sive/dɪˈraɪsɪv/adjective, noun
derisive is spelled D-E-R-I-S-I-V-E: 8 letters and 3 syllables (de·ri·sive). It appears about once in every 4 million words in written English, the 62,179th most frequent word form (wordfreq, 2021 data). As an adjective, derisive means “Expressing or characterized by derision; mocking; ridiculing” (English Wiktionary, September 2026).
How many letters and syllables are in derisive?
| Letters | 8: D-E-R-I-S-I-V-E |
|---|---|
| Syllables | 3: de·ri·sive |
| In writing | about once in every 4 million words; the 62,179th most frequent word form |
| Wrong spellings searched | none measured in search |
| Rhymes with |
Sources: letters and syllables from the English Wiktionary's hyphenation or pronunciation; written frequency: wordfreq 3.1 (a 2021 snapshot of Wikipedia, subtitles, news, books, web text and social media); rhymes and same-letter words are computed by PlainSpell from its own word list.
How common is derisive?
Derisive appears about once in every 4 million words in written English, the 62,179th most frequent word form in the list.
Source: written frequency: wordfreq 3.1 (a 2021 snapshot of Wikipedia, subtitles, news, books, web text and social media).
How do you pronounce derisive?
- UK /dɪˈɹaɪ.sɪv/
- UK /dɪˈɹɪ.sɪv/
- US /dɪˈraɪsɪv/
Derisive has 3 syllables, split de·ri·sive in writing.
Source: English Wiktionary, dump of September 2, 2026 (CC BY-SA 4.0), through kaikki.org (Wiktextract). Recordings: En-us-derisive.ogg, En-au-derisive.ogg, Wikimedia Commons (author and licence on each file's page).
What rhymes with derisive?
One word on PlainSpell end in the same sounds as derisive from its last stressed vowel (/aɪsɪv/):
Computed by PlainSpell from the pronunciations in the English Wiktionary (dump of September 2, 2026): a rhyme shares every sound from the last stressed vowel to the end; ordered by written frequency (wordfreq 3.1).
Forms of derisive
- more derisive comparative
- most derisive superlative
- derisives plural
Source: English Wiktionary, dump of September 2, 2026 (CC BY-SA 4.0), through kaikki.org (Wiktextract).
What does derisive mean?
The meanings the English Wiktionary records, quoted as written there (source below).
adjective
- 1
Expressing or characterized by derision; mocking; ridiculing.
The critic's review of the film was derisive.
- 2
Deserving or provoking derision or ridicule.
The plot of the film was so derisive that the audience began to jeer.
noun
- 1
rareA derisive remark.
Source: English Wiktionary, dump of September 2, 2026 (CC BY-SA 4.0), through kaikki.org (Wiktextract).
Derisive in Spanish, French, German and Portuguese
| Language | Words |
|---|---|
| French | dérisoire, ridiculeironique, moqueur |
| German | spöttisch, höhnisch , lächerlich |
| Portuguese | escarnecedor , ridículo |
| Spanish | irrisorio |
Source: English Wiktionary, dump of September 2, 2026 (CC BY-SA 4.0), through kaikki.org (Wiktextract). Translations are Wiktionary's, by sense; a linked word has its own PlainSpell page.
Where does derisive come from?
From the participle stem of Latin dērīdeō (“to deride”) + -ive.
Source: English Wiktionary, dump of September 2, 2026 (CC BY-SA 4.0), through kaikki.org (Wiktextract).