ridicule
[rid-i-kyool]
- speech or action intended to cause contemptuous laughter at a person or thing; derision.
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- to deride; make fun of.
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Origin of ridicule
Synonyms
See more synonyms for ridicule on Thesaurus.com1. mockery, raillery, sarcasm, satire, irony. 2. banter, chaff, rally, twit, burlesque, satirize, lampoon. 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.
Antonyms
praise.
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018
Examples from the Web for ridicule
Contemporary Examples
Over time, because of its popularity among young girls, it became the object of ridicule.
Although sprightly, Lilith is unusually small for her age, and thereby the butt of ridicule from her classmates.
The wackiest of Mormon teachings—many unknown to practicing Mormons today—have been dredged up and held to ridicule.
However, the reaction—and the ridicule—was so extreme that he soon backed down.
You put yourself out there for ridicule ‘cause it’s your face they see.
Norman Reedus: Daryl Doesn’t Need Romance, ‘The Walking Dead’ Isn’t About ErectionsMelissa Leon
March 13, 2014
Historical Examples
At the same time, they have their use, where they do not create their ridicule.
This powerful fear of ridicule conquered, or suppressed, all other feelings.
Tales And Novels, Volume 5 (of 10)Maria Edgeworth
Young men are so governed by fashion, and so afraid of ridicule.
Tales And Novels, Volume 5 (of 10)Maria Edgeworth
Let ridicule be abashed before the majesty of such characters!
Female Scripture Biographies, Vol. IIFrancis Augustus Cox
Would they bear the ridicule of the other boys of their own age?
The Comrade In WhiteW. H. Leathem
ridicule
- language or behaviour intended to humiliate or mock; derision
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- (tr) to make fun of, mock, or deride
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Word Origin
C17: from French, from Latin rīdiculus, from rīdēre to laugh
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition
© William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
Word Origin and History for ridicule
v.
1680s, "make ridiculous," from ridicule (n.) or else from French ridiculer, from ridicule. Meaning "make fun of" is from c.1700. Related: Ridiculed; ridiculing.
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n.
1670s, "absurd thing;" 1680s, "words or actions meant to invoke ridicule," from French ridicule, noun use of adjective (15c.), or from Latin ridiculum "laughing matter, joke," from noun use of neuter of ridiculus (see ridiculous).
"He who brings ridicule to bear against truth, finds in his hand a blade without a hilt." [Walter Savage Landor, "Imaginary Conversations"]
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Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper