ridicule implies a deliberate often malicious belittling.
consistently ridiculed everything she said
deride suggests contemptuous and often bitter ridicule.
derided their efforts to start their own business
mock implies scorn often ironically expressed as by mimicry or sham deference.
the other kids mocked the way he laughed
taunt suggests jeeringly provoking insult or challenge.
hometown fans taunted the visiting team
Examples of ridicule in a Sentence
Noun
She didn't show anyone her artwork for fear of ridicule.
the early efforts by the suffragists to obtain voting rights for women were met with ridiculeVerb
The other kids ridiculed him for the way he dressed.
They ridiculed all of her suggestions.
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Noun
How interesting, how ripe for ridicule that Fed economists think economic growth would exacerbate the price impact of Trump’s tariffs.—John Tamny, Forbes.com, 1 June 2025 Preeti faces ridicule and exclusion from her Indian community for defying her husband’s abuse and for her connection with Jackson.—Matthew Carey, Deadline, 22 May 2025
Verb
Videos of him saying that have been ridiculed by the anti-war right this week – one of them, a prediction that removing Saddam Hussein from power in Iraq would weaken Iran, was conclusively proven wrong.—David Weigel, semafor.com, 18 June 2025 But while others might see something to ridicule, Margarita sees something entirely different: a way to belong.—Kate Erbland, IndieWire, 10 June 2025 See All Example Sentences for ridicule
Word History
Etymology
Noun
French or Latin; French, from Latin ridiculum jest
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