Literary notes about Derisive (AI summary)
In literature, “derisive” functions as a multifaceted descriptor to convey contempt and mockery through tone, gesture, and facial expression. It often colors a character’s actions with an undercurrent of scorn—a derisive chuckle [1] or a subtly contemptuous smile [2, 3, 4] can indicate a dismissive attitude even in the midst of social interaction. Authors also use the term to imbue dialogue with irony, as a voice may take on a derisive inflection that transforms a routine remark into a pointed critique [5, 6, 7]. Moreover, narrative passages may evoke broader cultural or emotional commentary, such as derisive farewells [8] or the bitter, ironic mirth of fate [9], thereby enriching the text with layers of humor and subtle judgment [10, 11].
- " "Oh!" Bill gave another derisive chuckle.
— from The Easiest Way: A Story of Metropolitan Life by Eugene Walter - That hardened "ginthleman," absently sipping his coffee, flung a faintly-derisive, patient smile at his accuser.
— from The Luck of the Mounted: A Tale of the Royal Northwest Mounted Police by Ralph S. (Ralph Selwood) Kendall - "Perhaps he wants to be the messenger," said Mr. Courtney, with a derisive smile.
— from Grit; or, The Young Boatman of Pine Point by Alger, Horatio, Jr. - Mark hastily put up his hand to cover a smile which he felt to be derisive.
— from Brothers: The True History of a Fight Against Odds by Horace Annesley Vachell - Saying this, with a jerk of his body, which might have been either propitiatory or derisive, he fell into step beside me.
— from David Copperfield by Charles Dickens - "And how did you know her name was Mathilde?" asked the Captain, in a cold, derisive tone.
— from The Bright Face of Danger
Being an Account of Some Adventures of Henri de Launay, Son of the Sieur de la Tournoire by Robert Neilson Stephens - But from Horace on, ī nunc , go to now , is followed by et with a second imperative in derisive orders.
— from A Latin Grammar for Schools and Colleges by George Martin Lane - The young men must have interpreted the action in like manner, for the window was suddenly put down and three hands waved him a derisive farewell.
— from Glories of Spain by Charles W. (Charles William) Wood - Worse than all, he had to withstand the pitiless irony of it, the derisive grin of fate that drives men mad.
— from Where the Pavement Ends by John Russell - drollish; seriocomic, tragicomic; gimcrack, contemptible &c. (unimportant) 643; doggerel; ironical &c. (derisive) 856; risible.
— from Roget's Thesaurus by Peter Mark Roget - The derisive Jew laughter of Heine ran through the university and everything else in Berlin.
— from The Education of Henry Adams by Henry Adams