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

Mandelbaum has collected testimonials on No Nut Traveler that include people with food allergies being kicked off flights for asking for an announcement, being mocked by flight attendants and being ridiculed by other passengers.

From Science Daily

According to Namibian media, Nandi-Ndaitwah criticised her male colleagues for trying to ridicule the draft law, sternly reminding them that the Swapo constitution condemns sexism.

From BBC

Often ridiculed by parliamentary sketch writers for mangling the English language, to supporters he appeared an ordinary man facing the intellectual bullying by people with a better education.

From BBC

Finally, for the sake of keeping our spirits up and landing punches against our political foes, let’s remember the power of humor and ridicule.

From Salon

They focused largely on their own great plans and limited their attention to Trump to ridiculing him.

From Salon

Related Words

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