What context can I use each word in?
Learn when and how to use these words with these examples!
derided
Example
The politician was derided by the public for his controversial statements. [derided: verb]
Example
Her ideas were derided by her colleagues as unrealistic and impractical. [derided: past participle]
mock
Example
The comedian mocked the president's speech in his stand-up routine. [mocked: verb]
Example
He mockingly imitated his boss's accent to make his colleagues laugh. [mockingly: adverb]
Good things to know
Which word is more common?
Mock is more commonly used than deride in everyday language. Mock is versatile and covers a wide range of contexts, while deride is less common and has a more negative connotation.
What’s the difference in the tone of formality between derided and mock?
Both deride and mock are informal words that are typically used in casual conversations or informal writing. However, deride may be considered more formal than mock due to its negative connotation and severity.