Showing results for "mocking"

• present participle of mock.

mocking

American  

[mok-ing] / ˈmɒk ɪŋ /

adjective

1. showing ridicule, contempt, or derision.

   Elsewhere along the parade route, small bands of protesters held mocking signs.

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noun

• mockings
  plural

1. contemptuous, derisive, and usually imitative speech or action.

   Jake just turned his face away and took the mocking and ridicule his brothers dished out.

Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• self-mocking
  adjective
• unmocking
  adjective
• mockingly
  adverb
• unmockingly
  adverb

Inflected Forms

Nouns

• mockings
  plural

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Etymology

Origin of mocking

First recorded in 1400–50; mock ( def. ) + -ing ² ( def. ) for the adjective; mock ( def. ) + -ing ¹ ( def. ) for the noun

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Explanation

When you talk to or about someone in a mocking tone, you're making fun of them in a nasty, mean way. But if you're a comedy writer or political satirist, a mocking attitude is a tool of your trade. If you're writing a skit about the outrageous proposal some politician has just made, you'll write it in a mocking tone, imitating the politician's voice and mannerisms in a way that makes him look as ridiculous as you think he is. Seen any mockingbirds lately? That's the bird that sings almost nonstop, imitating the calls of other birds.

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

mocking mockings

Sirianni and Quinn now have to listen to a week’s worth of mocking from laypeople, podcasters, and worst of all, sports columnists at financial newspapers.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 12, 2026

"They don't have enough land," he said, mocking Russia -- the world's largest country.

From Barron's ● Sep. 26, 2026

She often does it while deflecting the mocking remarks of rambunctious colleagues Jesse Watters and Greg Gutfeld, who try to throw off her arguments.

From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 14, 2026

Phillips ultimately lost his job with Collins too, this time after crudely mocking a rival political operative whose wife had accused former NBC journalist Matt Lauer of rape.

From Slate ● Aug. 27, 2026

This crazy lift, this question, would remain with him forever, and emphasize forever something mocking and sinister in Roy’s face.

From "Go Tell It on the Mountain" by James Baldwin

A #nursewho hashtag emerged on Twitter, attached both to attacks on the casting and ironic mockings of the attackers.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 17, 2017

And others had trials of cruel mockings and scourgings, yea, moreover of bonds and imprisonment: they wandered about in sheepskins and in goatskins; being destitute, afflicted, tormented.

From The Whence and the Whither of Man A Brief History of His Origin and Development through Conformity to Environment; Being the Morse Lectures of 1895 by John Mason Tyler

Passions, experience and hope were brought as ministering angels to man, of whom the world was not worthy, through trials of cruel mockings and scourgings.

From Conversion of a High Priest into a Christian Worker by M. (Meletios) Golden

Blessed be God, that no taunts or mockings could so move Him, Who suffered all for our sakes.

From "Granny's Chapters" (on scriptural subjects) by Lady Mary Ross

The "calf" or young ox, symbolizes "patient continuance in well-doing" amidst trials, such as "cruel mockings," etc.

From Notes on the Apocalypse by David Steele

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Related Words

• derisive
• sarcastic

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