Dismissive
adjective
Definition
1. Showing that you do not think something or someone is worth considering.
2. Treating something as unimportant.
2. Treating something as unimportant.
Context Alive
She had spent weeks preparing her business proposal. But when she presented it to her manager, he barely glanced at the pages before pushing them aside with a dismissive wave of his hand. “We’ve tried this before,” he said, not even looking up. She left the office feeling invisible.
Meanings
1 meaning 1 Treating Something as Unimportant (Adjective) — VERY COMMON Common ▼
This meaning is about showing you don’t think someone or something deserves attention. Imagine sharing your worries with a friend, but she responds with a dismissive shrug and changes the subject, making you feel your concerns don’t matter. This is being dismissive — acting like something isn’t worth your time. You might get a dismissive response when asking for help, or a boss could be dismissive of employee suggestions. Or picture a doctor with a dismissive attitude toward a patient’s symptoms. The word suggests disrespect and lack of interest.
Vivid ExampleWhen she mentioned her dream of becoming a writer, her father was completely dismissive, laughing and telling her to focus on getting a “real job” instead of wasting time on fantasies.
Examples from the Street
“He was so dismissive of my idea — he didn’t even let me finish explaining.”
He showed no interest in my suggestion — he didn’t even allow me to complete my explanation
“Don’t be so dismissive — at least hear what she has to say.”
Don’t reject things so quickly — at least listen to her point
“She gave a dismissive wave of her hand and walked away.”
She gestured carelessly as if it didn’t matter and left
Common Patterns
dismissive of [ideas/suggestions] → rejecting proposals without consideration
dismissive of [concerns/worries] → not taking fears seriously
dismissive of [someone] → treating a person as unimportant
dismissive of [criticism/complaints] → ignoring negative feedback
dismissive attitude/tone → manner that shows lack of interest or respect
dismissive wave/gesture → physical movement showing rejection
dismissive remark/comment → words that brush something aside
dismissive response/reply → answer that shows no interest
be/sound dismissive → come across as uninterested or contemptuous
seem/appear dismissive → give the impression of not caring
become dismissive → start treating things as unimportant
too/overly dismissive → rejecting things more than is reasonable
Collocations
3 collocationsdismissive attitude
a manner that shows you don't take things seriously
dismissive tone
a way of speaking that shows disrespect
dismissive of
treating something as unworthy of attention
Example Sentences
12 examples
1
The manager was dismissive of our concerns about the deadline being unrealistic
The boss showed no interest in our worries about the target date being impossible to meet.
2
Don’t be so dismissive — her plan might actually work
Don’t reject things so quickly — her proposal could genuinely succeed.
3
He gave a dismissive wave when I tried to explain my reasoning
He gestured carelessly when I attempted to share my logic.
4
Her dismissive tone made it clear she wasn’t interested in negotiating
Her contemptuous manner of speaking showed she had no desire to discuss terms.
5
Critics were dismissive of the film, but audiences loved it
Reviewers rejected the movie, but viewers adored it.
6
I didn’t mean to sound dismissive — I was just in a hurry
I didn’t intend to come across as uninterested — I was simply rushing.
7
The doctor was too dismissive of her symptoms, which turned out to be serious
The physician didn’t take her signs of illness seriously enough, and they proved to be significant.
8
His dismissive attitude towards junior staff created a hostile work environment
His contemptuous manner towards lower-ranking employees produced an unpleasant office atmosphere.
9
She made a dismissive comment about my cooking that really hurt
She said something carelessly negative about my food preparation that genuinely stung.
10
Politicians are often dismissive of public opinion until election time
Government officials frequently ignore what citizens think until voting season arrives.
Learner Examples
★
Teachers shouldn’t be dismissive of students’ questions, even if they seem basic — curiosity should be encouraged
Instructors shouldn’t brush aside learners’ enquiries, even when they appear simple — inquisitiveness should be welcomed.
★
When learners struggle with pronunciation, a dismissive response can destroy their confidence and make them afraid to speak
When students have difficulty with how words sound, an uncaring reply can shatter their self-belief and leave them scared to talk.
Synonyms & Antonyms
7 items
Synonymscontemptuous
showing no respect
scornful
looking down on something
indifferent
not caring about someone's feelings
condescending
acting superior
Antonymsattentive
paying close attention
respectful
showing consideration
open-minded
willing to listen