View synonyms for ridicule

ridicule

[rid-i-kyool]

Phonetic (Standard)IPA

noun

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

to deride; make fun of.
Synonyms: lampoon, satirize, burlesque, twit, rally, chaff, banter

ridicule

/ ˈrɪdɪˌkjuːl /

noun

language or behaviour intended to humiliate or mock; derision

verb

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

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Other Word Forms

ridiculer noun
self-ridicule noun
unridiculed adjective

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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

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Word History and Origins

Origin of ridicule¹

C17: from French, from Latin rīdiculus , from rīdēre to laugh

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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.

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Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

Nicklaus alleged that the company’s statements “tended to subject Mr. Nicklaus to hatred, distrust, ridicule, contempt and disgrace, and injure him in his profession,” according to his defamation complaint.

Related Words

ridic ridiculous

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