laughingstock

noun

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

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 The tent encampments littering its streets have made the city a laughingstock. Andy Kessler, WSJ, 29 Oct. 2023 Besides viewing Trump as a laughingstock, according to Romney, some Republicans privately agree on another major thing: that Trump was guilty. Edith Olmsted, The New Republic, 14 Sep. 2023 His club has gone from the laughingstock of the majors to the best record in the AL and Henderson has played a huge role in their success. BostonGlobe.com, 7 Sep. 2023 Rodgers shows up in Florham Park, and overnight everyone expects the NFL’s laughingstock franchise to be a top Super Bowl contender. Ben Volin, BostonGlobe.com, 20 July 2023 That’s the only step remaining for Jones to take as a league executive after elevating the Phoenix franchise from laughingstock to legit contender. Greg Moore, The Arizona Republic, 12 Aug. 2022 Ohio became a laughingstock this week, after legislative testimony at the Statehouse from a vaccine skeptical physician who linked the coronavirus shots to 5G cell towers and bodies becoming magnetized. Jeremy Pelzer, cleveland, 11 June 2021 In a school culture steeped in antisemitism, new student Elefantin, with his red hair, curious foreign accent and Jewish-sounding name, becomes the automatic laughingstock for every pupil except for Petrie, who himself is ostracized simply for trying to befriend him. Washington Post, 16 Apr. 2021 Unfortunately, Kerry’s inexperience makes her as more of a laughingstock among the Roy family than a serious power player. Jordan Moreau, Variety, 2 Apr. 2023 See More

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'laughingstock.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

circa 1518, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of laughingstock was circa 1518

Dictionary Entries Near laughingstock

Cite this Entry

“Laughingstock.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/laughingstock. Accessed 3 Dec. 2023.

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

More from Merriam-Webster on laughingstock

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