ridicule

1 of 2

noun

rid·​i·​cule ˈri-də-ˌkyül How to pronounce ridicule (audio)
: the act of ridiculing : derision, mockery

ridicule

2 of 2

verb

ridiculed; ridiculing

transitive verb

: to make fun of
ridiculer noun
Choose the Right Synonym for ridicule

ridicule, deride, mock, taunt mean to make an object of laughter of.

ridicule implies a deliberate often malicious belittling.

consistently ridiculed everything she said

deride suggests contemptuous and often bitter ridicule.

derided their efforts to start their own business

mock implies scorn often ironically expressed as by mimicry or sham deference.

youngsters began to mock the helpless wino

taunt suggests jeeringly provoking insult or challenge.

hometown fans taunted the visiting team

Examples of ridicule in a Sentence

Noun She didn't show anyone her artwork for fear of ridicule. the early efforts by the suffragists to obtain voting rights for women were met with ridicule Verb The other kids ridiculed him for the way he dressed. They ridiculed all of her suggestions.
Recent Examples on the Web
Noun
Not surprisingly, Putin’s intent to stay in power has become the subject of ridicule by Russia’s opposition. Nathan Hodge, CNN, 11 Mar. 2024 One novel might even appear in another as an object of ridicule. Maya Binyam, The New Yorker, 11 Mar. 2024 Sandoval’s remark quickly went viral, facing ridicule from online commentators. Tatiana Tenreyro, The Hollywood Reporter, 20 Feb. 2024 The event swiftly became the subject of ridicule on social media after posts seized upon the differences between the images used in ads and photos of the event. Daniel Wu, Washington Post, 28 Feb. 2024 Even government officials became involved, though their responses ranged from ridicule to dismissal. Laura Daniella Sepulveda, The Arizona Republic, 17 Feb. 2024 Nor have the howls of dismay from his nation’s fierce legion of rugby supporters — for whom Rees-Zammit is a favorite due to his extraordinary pace — nor the stinging criticism and even ridicule across Britain, where football (the American variety) is still battling for mainstream popularity. Alexander Smith, NBC News, 19 Jan. 2024 During her lifetime, Hogarth’s confounding allegiances were a frequent subject of public speculation and ridicule. Ellen Wexler, Smithsonian Magazine, 15 Feb. 2024 But the live-in aspect of the code also received its share of ridicule. Anant Gupta, Washington Post, 8 Feb. 2024
Verb
In ridiculing Times correspondent Natalie Kitroeff’s efforts to get comment on the drug story, the president revealed her phone number. Mary Beth Sheridan, Washington Post, 23 Feb. 2024 Men who are new to caregiving may be ridiculed by male peers for engaging in activities usually associated with women — and even criticized by their partners for their poor caregiving skills. Christina Noriega, NPR, 23 Feb. 2024 And therefore, when they are exposed to humor, to ridiculing, that does hurt their pride, that does question their power, that does question their international standing. Kim Hjelmgaard, USA TODAY, 22 Feb. 2024 In 1920, an editorial in the New York Times sharply ridiculed Goddard's idea. Nadezhda Kosareva, Forbes, 22 Feb. 2024 In the corner, a comically tall white dunce cap sits, ready for some misbehaved student to be ridiculed with it. Amanda Rosa, Miami Herald, 31 Jan. 2024 Sweepingly ridiculed as one of 2012’s worst albums, that judgment, five years later, feels wildly narrow-minded. Matthew Strauss, Pitchfork, 29 Feb. 2024 In comments at a fundraiser in San Francisco, Biden also took aim at former President Donald Trump, ridiculing his likely opponent in the November presidential election for comparing himself to Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny, who died last week. Alexander Smith, NBC News, 22 Feb. 2024 The film’s first trailer, released in November, didn’t help as fans ridiculed it heavily on social media. Elahe Izadi, Washington Post, 19 Feb. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'ridicule.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Noun

French or Latin; French, from Latin ridiculum jest

First Known Use

Noun

1675, in the meaning defined above

Verb

1680, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of ridicule was in 1675

Dictionary Entries Near ridicule

Cite this Entry

“Ridicule.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/ridicule. Accessed 28 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

ridicule

1 of 2 noun
rid·​i·​cule ˈrid-ə-ˌkyü(ə)l How to pronounce ridicule (audio)
: the act of making fun of someone or something : derision

ridicule

2 of 2 verb
ridiculed; ridiculing
: to make fun of : deride
ridiculer noun

More from Merriam-Webster on ridicule

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