pejorative C2+ Topic:Describing Qualities US /pɪˈdʒɔrətɪv/ UK /pɪˈdʒɒrətɪv/ See IPA manual Meanings 1 adj expressing contempt or disapproval; disparaging He used the word in its most pejorative sense. Thesaurus Synonyms 1 adj · expressing contempt or... disparagingderogatorydeprecatorycontemptuousbelittlinginsulting ↔ Opposites complimentarylaudatoryapprobatoryameliorative Word family Derived forms pejoratively Related forms pejoratepejoration Etymology AI details From French péjoratif, from Late Latin peiorare ('to make worse'), from Latin peior ('worse'), comparative of malus ('bad'). péjoratif French peiorare Latin peior Latin View etymology graph -> Topics Describing Qualities Word Formation & Derivatives External links Cambridge Dictionary Wiktionary Google Images # pejorative **Type:** Word **Level:** C2+ **Part of speech:** adj **IPA (US):** /pɪˈdʒɔrətɪv/ **IPA (UK):** /pɪˈdʒɒrətɪv/ ## Meanings 1. expressing contempt or disapproval; disparaging ## Examples - He used the word in its most pejorative sense. ## Synonyms - disparaging - derogatory - deprecatory - contemptuous - belittling - insulting ## Antonyms - complimentary - laudatory - approbatory - ameliorative ## Derived Forms - pejoratively ## Related Forms - pejorate - pejoration ## Roots and Affixes - Root: péjoratif - Root: peiorare - Root: peior ## Etymology From French péjoratif, from Late Latin peiorare ('to make worse'), from Latin peior ('worse'), comparative of malus ('bad'). ## AI Etymology Pejorative comes from French péjoratif, from Late Latin peiorare ('to make worse'), from Latin peior ('worse'), comparative of malus ('bad'). The etymological trail includes French péjoratif, Latin peiorare, and Latin peior. As an adjective, pejorative means expressing contempt or disapproval; disparaging. The same family is visible in derived forms such as pejoratively and related forms such as pejorate and pejoration. ## Topics - Describing Qualities - Word Formation & Derivatives markdown