Synonyms of gibe

gibe 1 of 2

verb

ˈjīb 

variants or jibe

as in to ridicule

to make (someone or something) the object of unkind laughter

teammates gibing each other when one fouls up an important play

Synonyms & Similar Words

• ridicule
• mock
• taunt
• deride
• jeer
• tease
• parody
• laugh (at)
• make fun of
• scout
• rag on
• skewer
• make sport of
• shoot down
• imitate
• poke fun at
• scorn
• disparage
• harass
• belittle
• target
• torment
• cock snooks (at)
• sneer (at)
• razz
• scoff (at)
• rag
• decry
• jive
• cock a snook (at)
• twit
• satirize
• caricature
• pooh-pooh
• quiz
• mimic
• lampoon
• rib
• tweak
• bait
• heckle
• pester
• bad-mouth
• rally
• ape
• needle
• pillory
• bug
• ride
• harry
• parrot
• kid
• chaff
• catcall
• put down
• take off (on)
• josh
• hassle
• burlesque
• barrack
• travesty

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• approve
• endorse
• commend
• applaud
• sanction

gibe

2 of 2

noun

variants or jibe

as in sneer

Related Words

• sneer
• taunt
• jeer
• insult
• mock
• quip
• affront
• barb
• sarcasm
• slur
• slight
• epithet
• dart
• slap
• outrage
• indignity
• catcall
• invective
• brickbat
• vituperation
• dis
• poke
• disapproval
• put-down
• gird
• abuse
• dig
• name
• criticism
• cut
• personality
• offense
• opprobrium
• attack
• swipe
• dishonor
• shame
• disgrace
• knock
• slam
• torture
• torment

Dissimilar Words

• compliment
• praise
• commendation
• applause
• acclaim
• accolade
• flattery
• adulation

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

Recent Examples of gibe

Verb

Adamala’s team fiddled with their cellular brew, switching genes in and out and adjusting concentrations of various molecules, to get the crucial information-carrying and protein-making genetic systems to jibe. — Yasemin Saplakoglu, Quanta Magazine, 1 July 2026

Or that Penélope Cruz’s sultry chilliness would jibe with either her male counterparts or Wilde’s diary-of-a-mad-housewife interpretation of a brittle, eager-to-impress woman brimming with creative frustration. — David Fear, Rolling Stone, 26 June 2026

The movie basically imports Superman’s moral code, which doesn’t really jibe in a story filled to the brim with cigar-chomping bounty hunters and outlaws. — David Sims, The Atlantic, 26 June 2026

The falseness of the medium, though, jibed with the falseness of most attempts, throughout American history, to make sense of this enormous, strange man. — Christopher Hooks, Harpers Magazine, 23 June 2026

Yes, but how does your philosophy of humanistic capitalism jibe with China? — Nick Vivarelli, Variety, 13 June 2026

The whole thing didn’t quite jibe with his personality. — Dana O’Neil, CNN Money, 3 June 2026

But overall, the global findings jibe with other research that has demonstrated that young people today have been showing many positive trends, including a tendency to be more empathetic, less narcissistic, more inclusive and even more patient than past generations. — Claire Cameron, Scientific American, 19 Mar. 2026

This forced the British to make jibes to get down to the bottom of the course while the Americans jibed just once, and that was the deciding factor in securing what went on to be an easy victory. — Andrew Rice, New York Times, 1 Mar. 2026

Noun

In the final race, when Canfield was vying with Slingsby for the lead at the first turning mark, the Australians foiled through their first jibe and into a commanding lead. — Andrew Rice, New York Times, 11 Apr. 2026

Mamdani hit back at Tuberville’s jibe, which falsely suggested that Mamdani or Muslims support terrorism. — Dave Goldiner, New York Daily News, 13 Mar. 2026

Carr’s jibe struck me as weirdly TV-centric, in a very Trumpian sense. — Jon Allsop, New Yorker, 26 Feb. 2026

Leno later said he felt humiliated by Kimmel’s jibe. — Greg Evans, Deadline, 19 Sep. 2025

The foolishness of the governor’s gibe was underscored by the progressive, staunchly anti-Trump Democratic mayor of San Jose. — U T Editorial Board, San Diego Union-Tribune, 6 Sep. 2025

This is clearly a jibe at the earlier problems of Ola’s scooters and their infamous unreliability. — New Atlas, 10 Feb. 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

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