laughingstock

noun

laugh·​ing·​stock ˈla-fiŋ-ˌstäk How to pronounce laughingstock (audio)
ˈlä-
Synonyms of laughingstocknext
: an object of ridicule

Synonyms of laughingstock

Examples of laughingstock in a Sentence

The team has become the laughingstock of the league. The mayor became a laughingstock.
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
The fundamentalist movement became a national laughingstock. Michael Luo, New Yorker, 14 June 2026 The Knicks went from a laughingstock franchise to one of the league’s elite under Brunson’s watch. Joe Vardon, New York Times, 11 June 2026 East could be a gauntlet in ’26-27 A perennial laughingstock compared to the Western Conference, the East should be fun and fierce next season. Bennett Durando, Denver Post, 19 May 2026 Charlotte has long been a franchise laughingstock, dare say always. Miami Herald, 15 Apr. 2026 See All Example Sentences for laughingstock

Word History

First Known Use

circa 1518, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of laughingstock was circa 1518

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Cite this Entry

“Laughingstock.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/laughingstock. Accessed 24 Jun. 2026.

Kids Definition

laughingstock

noun
laugh·​ing·​stock ˈlaf-iŋ-ˌstäk How to pronounce laughingstock (audio)
ˈlȧf-
: a person or thing that is made fun of

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