laughingstock

[laf-ing-stok, lah-fing-]

noun

1. an object of ridicule; the butt of a joke or the like.

   His ineptness as a public official made him the laughingstock of the whole town.

Word History and Origins

Origin of laughingstock¹

First recorded in 1525–35; laughing + stock

Example Sentences

The backlash makes her a laughingstock and scuttles her career.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

And Isaac’s lack of an appropriate neck accessory made him the laughingstock of a dinner party at John Jay’s house the night they were meant to sign the Declaration of Independence.

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Moreover, she was neither a pitiful fool nor a mere laughingstock.

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Last year at this time, Oakland was baseball’s laughingstock, but although there’s still plenty of turmoil surrounding the Athletics’ planned moves to Sacramento and Las Vegas, their on-field performance hasn’t been too bad.

Read more on Seattle Times

Tom Brady and the New England Patriots rallied for a 34-28 overtime victory, which made Atlanta a national laughingstock.

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Related Words

• object of ridicule www.thesaurus.com