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

Israeli authorities have ridiculed the GSF flotilla and similar seaborne attempts to reach the territory, calling the boat Thunberg travelled on in June a "selfie yacht".

From BBC

Constitutional scholars — and some prominent conservative pundits — ridiculed Bondi’s claims as contrary to the 1st Amendment.

From Los Angeles Times

As a rookie in 2023, Johnston was a lightning rod for ridicule on social media for his inconsistent performances — particularly drops — with many expecting more from a former first-round pick.

From Los Angeles Times

The incident has fueled a storm of late-summer ridicule, with memes ricocheting across social media and commentators pointing to the almost slapstick nature of the scandal.

From Salon

The premise is simple — Scorsese, perfectionist filmmaker, mercilessly ridicules the photos he took of his nephew’s birthday party — but it’s his deadpan performance that really sells the joke.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

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