SuaviloquyToday’s word

derision

Derision, n.

Etymology: [L. derisio: cf. F. dérision. See Deride.]

1. The act of deriding, or the state of being derided; mockery; scornful or contemptuous treatment which holds one up to ridicule. He that sitteth in the heavens shall laugh; the Lord shall have them in derision. Ps. ii. 4. Saderision called. Milton.

2. An object of derision or scorn; a laughing-stock. I was a derision to all my people. Lam. iii. 14.

Syn. -- Scorn; mockery; contempt; insult; ridicule.

Shades of meaning

Fernald has no entry of its own for derision; he lists it under banter.

Where he writes about it:

Ridicule makes a person or thing the subject of contemptuous merriment; derision seeks to make the object derided seem utterly despicable--to laugh it to scorn. — from banter