ridicule

[ rid-i-kyool ]

noun

1. speech or action intended to cause contemptuous laughter at a person or thing; derision.

   Synonyms: irony, satire, sarcasm, raillery, mockery

verb (used with object)

, rid·i·culed, rid·i·cul·ing.

1. to deride; make fun of.

   Synonyms: lampoon, satirize, burlesque, twit, rally, chaff, banter

ridicule

/ ˈrɪdɪˌkjuːl /

noun

1. language or behaviour intended to humiliate or mock; derision

verb

1. tr to make fun of, mock, or deride

Derived Forms

• ˈridiˌculer, noun

Other Words From

• ridi·culer noun
• self-ridi·cule noun
• un·ridi·culed adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of ridicule¹

First recorded in 1665–75; from Latin rīdiculum “a joke,” equivalent to rīdēre “to laugh” + -i- -i- + -culum -cule ²

Word History and Origins

Origin of ridicule¹

C17: from French, from Latin rīdiculus , from rīdēre to laugh

Synonym Study

Ridicule, deride, mock, taunt imply making game of a person, usually in an unkind, jeering way. To ridicule is to make fun of, either sportively and good-humoredly, or unkindly with the intention of humiliating: to ridicule a pretentious person. To deride is to assail one with scornful laughter: to deride a statement of belief. To mock is sometimes playfully, sometimes insultingly, to imitate and caricature the appearance or actions of another: She mocked the seriousness of his expression. To taunt is to call attention to something annoying or humiliating, usually maliciously and exultingly and often in the presence of others: to taunt a candidate about his defeat in an election.

Example Sentences

That way, the fear of customer or public ridicule might encourage the software producers to do a better job of upgrading dependencies.

From TechCrunch

He drew additional ridicule after insisting that the addition of a swimming pool was needed to protect the house in case of fire.

From Time

Despite the ridicule, China looks set to carry out the three-child policy in the hope of addressing its rapidly aging population and plunging birth and marriage rates.

From Quartz

Until Chike Uzuegbunam sued Georgia Gwinnett College, this public institution had performed the public service of instituting a speech code so restrictive that it exposed the entire idea of such codes to wholesome ridicule.

From Washington Post

Two turning points were Spears’ breakdown in the late aughts and the death of Amy Winehouse in 2011, tragedies that revealed how much damage years of surveillance, objectification and ridicule could do to a young woman.

From Time

Throughout her life, she faced public ridicule, legal persecution and, eventually, redemption through a PhD in clinical sexology.

From The Daily Beast

Over time, because of its popularity among young girls, it became the object of ridicule.

From The Daily Beast

Although sprightly, Lilith is unusually small for her age, and thereby the butt of ridicule from her classmates.

From The Daily Beast

The wackiest of Mormon teachings—many unknown to practicing Mormons today—have been dredged up and held to ridicule.

From The Daily Beast

However, the reaction—and the ridicule—was so extreme that he soon backed down.

From The Daily Beast

He tried the effect of ridicule on the wretched and despairing Louis; and to one of his arguments, he at last extorted a reply.

From Project Gutenberg

A more potent and public method of ridicule would be difficult to devise.

From Project Gutenberg

I wish Vicky saw through her; she has so much influence over Jack, and such deadly powers of ridicule.

From Project Gutenberg

The attempt, however, subsequently exposed them to great ridicule from their democratic opponents.

From Project Gutenberg

Accordingly, the record of this hard-fighting soldier of the Empire has been cruelly buried in ridicule.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• caricature
• contempt
• derision
• disdain
• jeer
• laughter
• mockery
• parody
• sarcasm
• satire
• scorn
• taunt
• taunting