What Does Derogatory Mean?

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What Does Derogatory Mean?

2 Answers

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Answer 1

The term derogatory means trying to lessen the merit or reputation of a person or a thing. The word pejorative if it involves dislike or disapproval. The adjective pejorative is basically synonymous with derogatory. Dyslogisms like 'pea-brain", "bottom-feeder", etc are words and idioms effectively pejorative by character.

Though pejorative nearly has the same meaning as disparaging, the second expression can be used for a look as well as for a gesture, although it may not be simple to differentiate a disparaging gesticulation from a flippant or merely sceptical one.

Pejorative terms which are not intrinsically dyslogisms may also be applied is a non-pejorative for, nonetheless shaping the intention of the speaker is difficult as with any disguised meaning. On the contrary, a common metaphorical ploy is to use "pejorative" to go with the agenda of those shielding the substance as harmless.

Answer 2

The word derogatory means something which is derogative. It expresses a low opinion of someone or something. The synonyms of the word derogatory are pejorative, disparaging, critical, insulting, offensive, deprecating and belittling. The antonym of the word derogatory is complimentary.

A word or phrase is said to pejorative or derogatory if it is used to express one's contempt or disapproval of someone or something. People often tend to misspell the word pejorative as perjorative. Another synonym of the word derogatory is the word dyslogistic. The noun form of (the adjective) dyslogistic is dyslogism. The antonyms of the word dyslogism are meliorative and eulogistic. The noun form of (the adjective) eulogistic is eulogism.

Some common examples of dyslogisms are the phrases pea-brain and bottom-feeder. These words are essentially pejorative or derogatory by their nature. Words like Yankee (for an American, especially one from New York), ham (a form of radio programming or a actor who overacts), Tory and Whig (the nicknames of two political parties in the United Kingdom) originally stated off as derogatory terms, but are now accepted as common English words.