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Laughter may or may not be the best medicine—your mileage may vary—but it’s essential to understanding the verb deride. To deride someone or something is not merely to criticize or insult them, but to lower them (or attempt to lower them) in others’ esteem by making them appear ridiculous or worthy of mockery. This meaning is reflected in the word’s origins: deride comes from the Latin verb deridēre, a combination of the prefix de- (“to reduce or make lower”) and ridēre, meaning “to laugh.” Ridēre echoes in other English words as well, including ridicule and ridiculous. Ridicule functions as both verb (“to make fun of”) and noun (“the act of making fun of”), while ridiculous describes what arouses or deserves ridicule or mockery. More obscure than either of these ridēre descendants is the medical term risorius, which refers to a narrow band of muscle fibers in the face that reach to the corners of the mouth to make smiling possible. One does not necessarily need one’s risorius to deride something—people in the act of deriding may appear quite angry, even—but inspiring the bitter, contemptuous laughter of those within earshot is often the goal.
Examples of deride in a Sentence
Elizabeth D. Samet, Foreign Affairs, 29 Oct. 2025
Taibleson defended her conservative credentials during her confirmation hearing, and both Democratic and Republican senators derided the opposition campaign.
—Lawrence Andrea, jsonline.com, 27 Oct. 2025
Wall-to-wall carpet has long been derided as suburban and dated.
—The Washington Post, San Diego Union-Tribune, 25 Oct. 2025
The games are exhibition contests that do not count for anything, and last for two weeks ahead of an 82-game regular season that has for years been derided for its unnecessary length.
—Alex Kirschenbaum, MSNBC Newsweek, 18 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for deride
Cite this Entry
“Deride.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/deride. Accessed 4 Nov. 2025.
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