French Conversation · Level 90
58 words
French word
dérisoire
Pronunciation
IPA/deʁizwaʁ/
Meaning
- adjectivepitifully small
Example
Le salaire est dérisoire.
The salary is pitifully small.
More examples
La récompense était dérisoire.
The reward was paltry.
Core concept
A paltry amount beside a real need, making its inadequacy seem almost laughable.
Common phrases
salaire dérisoire
paltry salary
prix dérisoire
paltry price
Similar words
ridicule: Foolish or absurd enough to become an object of ridicule.
insignifiant: Having almost no importance or influence.
négligeable: Too slight to matter and safe to disregard.
minime: Very small in size, amount, or degree.
Definition in French
Qui paraît ridicule en raison de sa petitesse ou de son insuffisance manifeste.
Word origin
French dérisoire is a learned borrowing from Latin derisorius, 'derisive,' which derives from deridere, 'to mock.'
Usage tips
- Dérisoire usually signals sharp criticism of insufficiency, not simple amusement or mild smallness.
Other meanings
- ridiculousadjective
Opposites
- importantimportantadjective
- considérableconsiderableadjective
Related words
- dérisionmockerynoun
- dérisifderisiveadjective