Word: pejorative (adjective, sometimes noun)

Associations

The word "pejorative" describes language that expresses criticism, disapproval, or a negative judgment about someone or something. It often refers to words or phrases that make something sound worse or less important.

• "That nickname is pejorative because it makes fun of her."
• "Using pejorative terms can hurt people's feelings."
• "He avoided pejorative language during the debate to stay polite."

A common synonym is "derogatory," but "pejorative" is often more formal and can refer to the general idea of negative meanings in words, while "derogatory" usually means showing strong disrespect.

Substitution

You can replace "pejorative" with:

• derogatory (stronger, more disrespectful)
• negative (more general, less formal)
• insulting (more direct and harsh)

Changing the word can make the sentence more or less formal or strong in tone.

Deconstruction

"Pejorative" comes from Latin "pejorare," which means "to make worse." The root "pejor-" means "worse." The suffix "-ative" is used to form adjectives meaning "tending to" or "having the nature of." So "pejorative" means "tending to make worse" or "expressing disapproval."

Inquiry

• Can you think of a time when someone used a word that sounded pejorative?
• How does using pejorative language affect conversations or relationships?
• Are there words you know that sound neutral but can be pejorative in some situations?