Derided is the past tense of deride, meaning to express contempt or ridicule toward someone or something. It denotes laughter, mockery, or scorn directed at a subject, often publicly or in social judgment. The term implies a vocal or visible disdain that undermines or questions the value of the target.
US: R-dropping in certain dialects is less relevant here because the word presents with /r/ in the second syllable; keep a clear /ɹ/ if your accent retains rhoticity. UK: Some speakers might have a slightly shorter /ɪ/ in the first syllable and a crisper /ˈraɪ/ nucleus; maintain non-schwa first syllable and a bright /aɪ/ diphthong. AU: Similar to US with a slightly more centralized vowel in /ɪ/; preserve the /ɹ/ and ensure the /aɪ/ glide is audible. Across all: keep stress on /ˈraɪ/ and end with /d/.
"The critics derided the proposal as impractical and out of touch with real-world needs."
"Fans derided the new policy, shouting questions and booing during the press conference."
"She derided his attempt at humor, rolling her eyes at every punchline."
"During the debate, many viewers derided the candidate's vague answers and evasive remarks."
Derided comes from the Latin deridēre, derīdere, meaning to mock or laugh at. Deridēre itself is formed from de- (expressing reversal or removal) + ridēre (to laugh, smile). The root ridēre is also the source of words like ridicule and ridiculous. In medieval Latin, deridere meant to laugh down upon someone or to mock openly, often in public discourse. The term traveled into Old French as derire/dri-der, with similar meanings of mockery, before entering English in the 16th century. Early modern usage framed deride as a formal, sometimes biting expression of contempt, frequently appearing in satirical or polemical writing. Over time, deride retained its core sense of verbal jeering or scorn but broadened to describe not only outright mockery but also sneering dismissiveness in speech or behavior. In contemporary usage, derided actions or ideas are treated as unfounded, ridiculous, or beneath consideration, and the past tense derided is common in narrative past contexts. The word remains closely linked to ridicule, contempt, and social judgment, and is often used in discussions of critique, politics, literature, and media where public ridicule is a factor.
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Words that rhyme with "Derided"
-ded sounds
Practice with these rhyming pairs to improve your pronunciation consistency:
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Pronounced di-RYED with the primary stress on the second syllable: /dɪˈraɪd/. The first syllable is a short, unstressed 'di' and the second syllable houses the long diphthong /aɪ/ as in 'ride'. Final 'd' is a crisp alveolar stop. For reference, say di- then ride quickly together.
Common errors include flattening /ɪ/ to a lax schwa in the first syllable and misplacing the /aɪ/ as a mono vowel instead of a diphthong. Another mistake is pronouncing /d/ at the end with a stopped release like 'did' instead of a light, final /d/. Correction: keep /ɪ/ in the first syllable, glide into /aɪ/ in the stressed second syllable, and release the final /d/ with a brief, clear stop.
In US/UK/AU, the primary difference is vowel quality: all typically use /dɪˈraɪd/. Americans tend to have slightly flatter vowels; Brits may have crisper /ɪ/ and a more pronounced /ɹ/ unless non-rhotic accents reduce /r/ in syllables, but here /r/ is present due to /dɪˈraɪd/. Australian English also has /ɹ/ but with a slightly more centralized vowel color. Overall, the stress pattern and IPA stay the same; only vowel coloration and rhoticity influence subtle timbre.
The challenge lies in the diphthong /aɪ/ in the stressed second syllable, which requires a precise glide from /ɪ/ to /aɪ/ while maintaining a clean /d/ ending. Additionally, the unreduced first syllable /dɪ/ can invite vowel reduction in fast speech. Practicing the two-part sequence—brief /dɪ/ then the /ˈraɪ/ nucleus—helps escalate to natural tempo without losing clarity.
The word contains a clear secondary landmark: the /ˈraɪ/ diphthong that emphasizes the second syllable. A unique aspect is ensuring the syllable boundary is perceived between /dɪ/ and /raɪ/ in fast speech, preventing fusion into /dəˈraɪd/ or /ˈdrɪd/. Emphasize the stressed nucleus /raɪ/ and maintain a crisp final /d/.
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