pejorative

adjective

pi-ˈjȯr-ə-tiv How to pronounce pejorative (audio)
Definition of pejorativenext
as in insulting
intended to make a person or thing seem of little importance or value the reviewer used the pejorative word "versifier" to refer to the writer, whose poems had struck a responsive chord with the general public

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of pejorative Wilder has been criticized so often for the pejorative descriptions of Indigenous people in the book series that in 2018, a division of the American Library Association removed her name from a prestigious achievement award for children’s literature. — Emily Staunton, Christian Science Monitor, 8 July 2026 Not in the pejorative, party girl sense, but in a cool, chaotically chic way. — Kaleigh Werner, Footwear News, 12 June 2026 The term hillbilly, which is often considered pejorative, refers to isolated white Americans with origins in rural and mountainous areas, often in the South, Appalachia, or the Ozarks. — Jordana Rosenfeld, Encyclopedia Britannica, 12 June 2026 These aren’t just NIMBY complaints—not in the pejorative sense, at least. — IEEE Spectrum, 7 May 2026 See All Example Sentences for pejorative
Recent Examples of Synonyms for pejorative
  1. insulting
  2. derogatory
  3. malicious
  4. demeaning
  5. disparaging
  6. deprecatory
  7. uncomplimentary
  8. contemptuous
Adjective
  • Even instances of heckling at games – over performance on the court – felt good-natured, rather than insulting.
    — Odette Yousef, NPR, 29 Aug. 2026
  • The adventures of Addison’s titular shilling include being hoarded, offered as a bribe, and sent as an insulting accompaniment to a letter disinheriting a son.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 28 Aug. 2026
Definition of insulting
Adjective
  • The designer also made derogatory comments to an Asian patron.
    — Lizzie Lanuza, StyleCaster, 1 Sep. 2026
  • In messages to each other, the two men referred to their victims in insults and derogatory language, according to the complaint.
    — Idaho Statesman, Idaho Statesman, 28 Aug. 2026
Definition of derogatory
Adjective
  • Strong antivirus software can help warn you about malicious downloads or suspicious websites.
    — Kurt Knutsson, FOXNews.com, 4 Sep. 2026
  • Radha had always believed that the world was evil and people malicious.
    — Akhil Sharma, New Yorker, 3 Sep. 2026
Definition of malicious
Adjective
  • By demeaning and alienating most people, Capps predicted, the Christian right wing was planting the seeds of its own demise.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 25 Aug. 2026
  • The consulting partner who learned precision was never demeaning.
    — Mark Nevins, Forbes.com, 13 Aug. 2026
Definition of demeaning
Adjective
  • Felix points to Trump’s disparaging and false comments against Haitians in Springfield, Ohio, which put a target on the back of many Haitian immigrants.
    — Miami Herald, Miami Herald, 29 Apr. 2026
  • The irony is that Trump has been more disparaging and dismissive of the military than any other president.
    — Joe Garofoli, San Francisco Chronicle, 17 Mar. 2026
Definition of disparaging
Adjective
  • This subsided with unusual speed, however, as cricket fans took instead to sharing the self-deprecatory jokes coming over the border.
    — The Economist, The Economist, 22 June 2019
  • Philipps has acquired her 1-million-and-growing Instagram followers through her self-deprecatory humor, raw honesty and vulnerability.
    — Sonja Haller, USA TODAY, 11 July 2018
Definition of deprecatory
Adjective
  • Neither party admitted to liability and each agreed to refrain from making disparaging, negative or uncomplimentary statements about the other, the document said.
    — Lorraine Mirabella, Baltimore Sun, 29 July 2022
  • Though the pollen gunk will pass, he's concerned by a contingent of Twitter trolls who've shared uncomplimentary reviews of his recent North American tour.
    — Jordan Runtagh, PEOPLE.com, 21 Jan. 2022
Definition of uncomplimentary
Adjective
  • The Larson campaign became openly contemptuous of Bronin at the May convention.
    — Kevin Rennie, Hartford Courant, 25 July 2026
  • The man didn’t catch Serena’s contemptuous expression, however, too busy peeling bills from a money clip and pressing them into his date’s hand.
    — Raven Brunner, PEOPLE, 30 June 2026
Definition of contemptuous

Browse Nearby Words

pegs out
pejorative
pelage
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Cite this Entry

“Pejorative.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/pejorative. Accessed 5 Sep. 2026.

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