ShmoopTube

00:03

And here's your shmoopy word du jour:

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James decided to break up with his girlfriend because she was making derogatory remarks about some of his best friends...

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losers though they may be.

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What is the meaning of the word derogatory?

00:23

OK so what is this question asking?

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Yeah, it's a vocab question grilling us on the word "derogatory."

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So... think about the word in context of the sentence they give us -- whatever derogatory is... it's bad.

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You wouldn't break up with your girlfriend if she was saying awesome things about your friends.

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Kind and sweet? Nuh-uh. Factual or true? Probably not breakup-worthy.

00:52

Complimentary? Don't think so. So none of these click. But what about critical

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or disrespectful... Like... "Your friends are embarrassing."

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"Everywhere they go, people laugh and point at them." "They're worthless." OUCH.

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Critical and disrespectful comments are pretty... derogatory.

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The answer is D. As in... "Dungeons and Dragons."

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