gibe 1 of 2

variants or jibe

gibe

2 of 2

noun

variants or jibe

Synonym Chooser

How is the word gibe distinct from other similar verbs?

Some common synonyms of gibe are fleer, flout, jeer, scoff, and sneer. While all these words mean "to show one's contempt in derision or mockery," gibe implies taunting either good-naturedly or in sarcastic derision.

hooted and gibed at the umpire

Where would fleer be a reasonable alternative to gibe?

The words fleer and gibe are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, fleer suggests grinning or grimacing derisively.

the saucy jackanapes fleered at my credulity

When is it sensible to use flout instead of gibe?

In some situations, the words flout and gibe are roughly equivalent. However, flout stresses contempt shown by refusal to heed.

flouted the conventions of polite society

In what contexts can jeer take the place of gibe?

The synonyms jeer and gibe are sometimes interchangeable, but jeer suggests a coarser more undiscriminating derision.

the crowd jeered at the prisoners

When might scoff be a better fit than gibe?

While the synonyms scoff and gibe are close in meaning, scoff stresses insolence, disrespect, or incredulity as motivating the derision.

scoffed at their concerns

When could sneer be used to replace gibe?

Although the words sneer and gibe have much in common, sneer stresses insulting by contemptuous facial expression, phrasing, or tone of voice.

sneered at anything romantic

Example Sentences

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.
Recent Examples of gibe
Verb
Joe Biden's Farewell Letter Takes 'Civil War' Swipe At Donald Trump By Khaleda Rahman National Correspondent 149 President Joe Biden has released a farewell letter to Americans, appearing to gibe President-elect Donald Trump. Michael Gfoeller and David H. Rundell, Newsweek, 15 Jan. 2025 Thompson was dressed less formally, and gibed at Weinberger about his attire. Jay Nordlinger, National Review, 4 Dec. 2023 But the Space Force decision was announced six months ago, and suggesting it’s at fault for the New Glenn delay doesn’t gibe with Blue’s previous statements. Tim Fernholz, Quartz, 26 Feb. 2021
Noun
Roy Keane’s ‘prawn sandwiches’ jibe had interesting origins. Michael Walker, The Athletic, 15 Mar. 2025 But even some Republicans weren’t happy with the nasty gibe. Dave Goldiner, New York Daily News, 6 Mar. 2025 This is clearly a jibe at the earlier problems of Ola’s scooters and their infamous unreliability. New Atlas, 10 Feb. 2025 Does this cold snap jibe with the preseason winter forecast? Doyle Rice, USA TODAY, 16 Jan. 2025 In an apparent jibe about Mangione's arrest, social media users shared what looked like a post from McDonald's rival Burger King, suggesting the latter restaurant chain would not have informed the police. Joseph Epstein, Newsweek, 10 Dec. 2024 The gibe blew Quayle off the debate stage; then, just a few weeks later, Republicans won the White House in a landslide. Lorraine Ali, Los Angeles Times, 1 Oct. 2024 And Glaser launched a good-natured jibe at producer Benny Blanco. Joe Lynch, Billboard, 3 Sep. 2019 The contrary argument is that stronger presidential oversight gibes with American constitutional principles and would ensure greater political accountability to the voters for all of an administration’s initiatives. Alden Abbott, Forbes, 21 Mar. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for gibe
Verb
  • In September 2024, she was mocked online after releasing a single.
    Kate Plummer, MSNBC Newsweek, 25 June 2025
  • Tonally, the show is all over the place, laying on the moody theatrics one moment, mocking Dave’s writerly pretenses the next.
    Nina Metz, Chicago Tribune, 25 June 2025
Noun
  • His voice—typically pitched between a bellow and a sneer—was instantly recognizable to the couple that night.
    Air Mail, Air Mail, 3 May 2025
  • In a movie climate where remakes tend to draw sneers of derision and claims that people have just gotten too lazy to invent anything new, Disney’s remakes of its own products are always a chief target.
    Stephanie Zacharek, TIME, 21 Mar. 2025
Verb
  • Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff has ridiculed Red Bull's protest, which challenged George Russell's maiden victory of the 2025 season in Canada.
    Saajan Jogia, MSNBC Newsweek, 18 June 2025
  • San Francisco has been consistently ridiculed for its rise in homeless population and videos of open-air drug use on the city’s streets.
    Ryan Gaydos, FOXNews.com, 17 June 2025
Noun
  • With both sides trading back-and-forth highlights, cornerback Jaycee Horn exchanged verbal taunts with running back Chuba Hubbard and quarterback Bryce Young.
    Mike Kaye, Charlotte Observer, 11 June 2025
  • Haliburton borrowed Miller’s choking taunt in Game 1.
    Jason Jones, New York Times, 1 June 2025
Verb
  • His chaotic global trade war, derided everywhere in his first few months, was up for reconsideration with some experts, who have projected less of a hit to the U.S. economy than originally expected.
    Massimo Calabresi, Time, 26 June 2025
  • His heart-on-sleeve rumination about aging seems premature, but the authenticity from a guy who released his high-stakes album a few days before turning 23 shouldn’t be derided.
    Melissa Ruggieri, USA Today, 22 June 2025
Noun
  • If an artist could successfully sue over a diss, would that bring about the last of label-supported (and thus widely heard) diss records?
    Touré, HollywoodReporter, 19 June 2025
  • Many people had already interpreted the track as a diss to Puff, but now believe there was a potential relationship between the 6 God and Cassie, which caused the controversial mogul to get angry and abuse her.
    Armon Sadler, VIBE.com, 21 May 2025
Verb
  • Hundreds of protesters facing them jeered in English and Spanish, telling the troops to go home.
    Lolita C. Baldor, Chicago Tribune, 15 June 2025
  • Soto had only one hit in 10 at-bats in the three games as he was relentlessly booed and jeered by the Yankee Stadium fans.
    Jon Vankin, MSNBC Newsweek, 29 May 2025
Noun
  • The president and the governor are having a momentous fight about constitutional rights in the courts, and flaming each other with insults and photoshopped memes on Truth Social and X. The ICE raids have thrown some Angelenos into a state of fear and virtual hiding.
    Julia Wick, Los Angeles Times, 14 June 2025
  • And while many residents and officials in Los Angeles have sought to tamp down reactions to the sometimes-violent protests, President Donald Trump and his administration have appeared to fan the flames, hurling insults in social media posts and encouraging an aggressive response to protests.
    Pamela Avila, USA Today, 11 June 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Gibe.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/gibe. Accessed 30 Jun. 2025.

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