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)

ridiculed, ridiculing 

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

Other Word Forms

• ridiculer noun
• self-ridicule noun
• unridiculed 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

The Mavericks took most of the criticism, ridiculed for dealing away a once-in-a-lifetime talent without maximizing a return.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

The House has left town, Senate leaders aren’t even pretending to negotiate, and the president seems occupied with ridiculing Democrats External link on social media.

Read more on Barron's

After that superb opening game, coach Jim Harbaugh had a message for everyone who had ridiculed his young receiver over the years:

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

Some said these resembled a Nazi salute—a claim he has ridiculed.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

Whatever the merits of having someone different in charge – and many see Robert Jenrick waiting in the wings – it risks exposing the Tories once again to the most damaging of political forces: ridicule.

Read more on BBC

Related Words

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