ridicule

2. 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.

OTHER WORDS FROM ridicule

rid·i·cul·er, nounself-rid·i·cule, nounun·rid·i·culed, adjective

Words nearby ridicule

Ridgewood, Ridgway, ridgy, ridgy-didge, ridic, ridicule, ridiculous, riding, riding boot, riding breeches, riding crop

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use ridicule in a sentence

That way, the fear of customer or public ridicule might encourage the software producers to do a better job of upgrading dependencies.
To prevent cyberattacks, the government should limit the scope of a software bill of materials|Annie Siebert|August 26, 2021|TechCrunch
He drew additional ridicule after insisting that the addition of a swimming pool was needed to protect the house in case of fire.
A South African Court's Ruling Against Jacob Zuma Offers Hope for the Rule of Law|Ian Bremmer|July 6, 2021|Time
Despite the ridicule, China looks set to carry out the three-child policy in the hope of addressing its rapidly aging population and plunging birth and marriage rates.
China’s propaganda journey from “only one child is good” to the three-child policy|Jane Li|June 7, 2021|Quartz
Until Chike Uzuegbunam sued Georgia Gwinnett College, this public institution had performed the public service of instituting a speech code so restrictive that it exposed the entire idea of such codes to wholesome ridicule.
Campus speech rules are hurting students. They deserve recompense — even if it’s just $1.|George Will|March 12, 2021|Washington Post

Two turning points were Spears’ breakdown in the late aughts and the death of Amy Winehouse in 2011, tragedies that revealed how much damage years of surveillance, objectification and ridicule could do to a young woman.
From Britney to Buffy, We're Suddenly Rethinking Postfeminist Pop Culture—and Nothing Could Be Healthier|Judy Berman|March 2, 2021|Time
Throughout her life, she faced public ridicule, legal persecution and, eventually, redemption through a PhD in clinical sexology.
Whip It: Secrets of a Dominatrix|Justin Jones|November 25, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Over time, because of its popularity among young girls, it became the object of ridicule.
In Japan, Zima Haz No Zexual Preference|Jake Adelstein, Angela Erika Kubo|September 13, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Although sprightly, Lilith is unusually small for her age, and thereby the butt of ridicule from her classmates.
Holocaust Horrors Haunt the Films ‘Ida’ And ‘The German Doctor’|Jack Schwartz|May 12, 2014|DAILY BEAST
The wackiest of Mormon teachings—many unknown to practicing Mormons today—have been dredged up and held to ridicule.
The Core Mormon Teaching the LDS Church Didn’t Jettison|Jay Michaelson|April 7, 2014|DAILY BEAST
However, the reaction—and the ridicule—was so extreme that he soon backed down.
Will Jargon Be the Death of the English Language?|The Telegraph|March 30, 2014|DAILY BEAST
He tried the effect of ridicule on the wretched and despairing Louis; and to one of his arguments, he at last extorted a reply.
The Pastor's Fire-side Vol. 3 of 4|Jane Porter
A more potent and public method of ridicule would be difficult to devise.
A Letter from Mr. Cibber to Mr. Pope|Colley Cibber
I wish Vicky saw through her; she has so much influence over Jack, and such deadly powers of ridicule.
Ancestors|Gertrude Atherton
The attempt, however, subsequently exposed them to great ridicule from their democratic opponents.
Madame Roland, Makers of History|John S. C. Abbott
Accordingly, the record of this hard-fighting soldier of the Empire has been cruelly buried in ridicule.
Napoleon's Marshals|R. P. Dunn-Pattison

British Dictionary definitions for ridicule

ridicule

/ (ˈrɪdɪˌkjuːl) /

noun

language or behaviour intended to humiliate or mock; derision

verb

(tr) to make fun of, mock, or deride

Derived forms of ridicule

ridiculer, noun

Word Origin for ridicule

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

ridicule

OTHER WORDS FOR ridicule

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Origin of ridicule

synonym study for ridicule

OTHER WORDS FROM ridicule

Words nearby ridicule

Words related to ridicule

How to use ridicule in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for ridicule

Derived forms of ridicule

Word Origin for ridicule