as in sardonic
Related Words
Relevance
Dissimilar Words
as in ridiculing
Related Words
1
as in parodying
to copy or exaggerate (someone or something) in order to make fun of
team members good-naturedly mocked the coach's familiar bellow
Synonyms & Similar Words
2
as in taunting
to make (someone or something) the object of unkind laughter
the fashion gurus loved to mock the famous couple for their unsophisticated clothes
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in disobeying
to go against the commands, prohibitions, or rules of
a person willing to mock the religious prohibition against working on the Sabbath
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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 mocking
Jonathan Bernstein, Rolling Stone, 23 Sep. 2025
Rob Sheffield, Rolling Stone, 2 Nov. 2025
The cast, for their part, have not let up on their mocking of him.
—Anna Kaufman, USA Today, 6 Oct. 2025
Still, the DoE’s X post drew millions of views and many mocking replies, including a community note reminding readers that batteries exist to store power when the sun isn’t shining or the wind isn’t blowing.
—Eva Roytburg, Fortune, 8 Sep. 2025
More Photo by Ian Maule/Getty Images After Atlanta's preseason win to the Dallas Cowboys, an opposing Cowboys fan echoed the mocking mispronunciation of Penix's name that caught the quarterback's attention.
—Cecil Merkerson, MSNBC Newsweek, 24 Aug. 2025
Ross is also executive producer of Netflix’s celebrity roasts as well as a writer and a performer on them, including the headlines-making mocking of former NFL quarterback and seven-time Super Bowl winner Tom Brady.
—Frank Digiacomo, Billboard, 15 Aug. 2025
Kim Hew-Low, The Atlantic, 10 Nov. 2025
The music video is a single shot of Welch in the back of a car, singing along in a suit, sporting shades and a cigar, both mocking and inhabiting the position of male dominance.
—Grace Byron, New Yorker, 6 Nov. 2025
This summer, after initially targeting Punch, the president of SZA’s label TDE, Minaj dissed SZA herself on X, mocking her physical appearance, questioning her level of success, and accusing her of manipulating charts with her release of Lana, the deluxe version of 2022’s SOS.
—Brian Hiatt, Rolling Stone, 6 Nov. 2025
The prosecutor told jurors that Flores had been bickering with and mocking the man, who was heavily restrained and moving slowly, while escorting him to a courthouse holding cell after the man had a court hearing last August.
—Alex Riggins, San Diego Union-Tribune, 6 Nov. 2025
Spicer was voted out after eight weeks of mocking from social media and the show’s judges.
—Jackie Strause, HollywoodReporter, 5 Nov. 2025
Brown said, mocking the press headlines.
—Zack Sharf, Variety, 5 Nov. 2025
Brown said, mocking the headlines that inspired her Instagram video.
—Mekishana Pierre, Entertainment Weekly, 5 Nov. 2025
Critics claim the ad is tone-deaf for mocking striking workers.
—Reia Li, AZCentral.com, 4 Nov. 2025
Adjective
To get a sense of his whole deal, look no further than the half-mocking, half-earnest title of his latest album, Country!
—Jonathan Bernstein, Rolling Stone, 23 Sep. 2025
Noun
The movie has a brief mocking glimpse of MTV, just for a cheap laugh, when Springsteen is flipping channels between Badlands reruns.
—Rob Sheffield, Rolling Stone, 2 Nov. 2025
The cast, for their part, have not let up on their mocking of him.
—Anna Kaufman, USA Today, 6 Oct. 2025
Still, the DoE’s X post drew millions of views and many mocking replies, including a community note reminding readers that batteries exist to store power when the sun isn’t shining or the wind isn’t blowing.
—Eva Roytburg, Fortune, 8 Sep. 2025
More Photo by Ian Maule/Getty Images After Atlanta's preseason win to the Dallas Cowboys, an opposing Cowboys fan echoed the mocking mispronunciation of Penix's name that caught the quarterback's attention.
—Cecil Merkerson, MSNBC Newsweek, 24 Aug. 2025
Ross is also executive producer of Netflix’s celebrity roasts as well as a writer and a performer on them, including the headlines-making mocking of former NFL quarterback and seven-time Super Bowl winner Tom Brady.
—Frank Digiacomo, Billboard, 15 Aug. 2025
Verb
These contrivances became so well known that, in 2009, the All-American Rejects guitarist Nick Wheeler spent much of his appearance mocking them.
—Kim Hew-Low, The Atlantic, 10 Nov. 2025
The music video is a single shot of Welch in the back of a car, singing along in a suit, sporting shades and a cigar, both mocking and inhabiting the position of male dominance.
—Grace Byron, New Yorker, 6 Nov. 2025
This summer, after initially targeting Punch, the president of SZA’s label TDE, Minaj dissed SZA herself on X, mocking her physical appearance, questioning her level of success, and accusing her of manipulating charts with her release of Lana, the deluxe version of 2022’s SOS.
—Brian Hiatt, Rolling Stone, 6 Nov. 2025
The prosecutor told jurors that Flores had been bickering with and mocking the man, who was heavily restrained and moving slowly, while escorting him to a courthouse holding cell after the man had a court hearing last August.
—Alex Riggins, San Diego Union-Tribune, 6 Nov. 2025
Spicer was voted out after eight weeks of mocking from social media and the show’s judges.
—Jackie Strause, HollywoodReporter, 5 Nov. 2025
Brown said, mocking the press headlines.
—Zack Sharf, Variety, 5 Nov. 2025
Brown said, mocking the headlines that inspired her Instagram video.
—Mekishana Pierre, Entertainment Weekly, 5 Nov. 2025
Critics claim the ad is tone-deaf for mocking striking workers.
—Reia Li, AZCentral.com, 4 Nov. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for mocking
Adjective
-
Perhaps the distance was a result of Goldman’s eventual drug use or the appearance of The Professor of Desire published in 1977, whose sardonic portrait of David Kepesh drew heavily on Goldman.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
20 Oct. 2025
-
The time to be sardonic had passed.—
Eddie Huang,
Curbed,
9 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
The brand announced the drop on Instagram with a campaign video parodying 1970s game shows.—
Catherine Santino,
PEOPLE,
5 Nov. 2025
-
Meta/Facebook has rolled out engaging bots, parodying famous personas such as Jane Austen; Snapchat has offered a chatbot to individual users.—
John Wihbey,
Big Think,
7 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
By the 1830s, politicians had stopped ridiculing America’s growing canal system.—
Matthew Smith,
The Conversation,
20 Oct. 2025
-
The show opened with a skit mocking Hegseth, portrayed by comedian Colin Jost, ridiculing the Defense Secretary's address to military leaders in Quantico, Virginia, last week.—
Chandelis Duster,
NPR,
5 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
Illinois State Police cited him on suspicion of disobeying a police officer – a petty offense punishable by a fine – Cook County court records show, and is scheduled to appear in court November 25.—
Nicquel Terry Ellis,
CNN Money,
2 Nov. 2025
-
In Missouri, disobeying traffic lights is considered a moving violation.—
Eleanor Nash,
Kansas City Star,
15 Oct. 2025
Adjective
-
Earlier that day, Minaj had posted derisive comments about Roc Nation, suggesting the company had unsuccessfully tried to sign her.—
Andrew Flanagan,
Variety,
15 Oct. 2025
-
Spokespeople turned away media requests for such information with a derisive laugh.—
Ron Kampeas,
The Washington Examiner,
26 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
Just kidding, that’s next Sunday.—
Alex Kirshner,
New York Times,
26 Oct. 2025
-
Just kidding; Angie is using this as an opportunity to go after Lisa.—
Tom Smyth,
Vulture,
8 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
An investigation by the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) said hackers accessed the system by imitating a legitimate user account.—
Charlotte Reck,
CNN Money,
9 Nov. 2025
-
Life isn’t quite imitating art for Kim Kardashian.—
Jodi Guglielmi,
Rolling Stone,
8 Nov. 2025
Verb
-
Wrapped in a blanked on the sofa, binging reruns of The Oprah Show on YouTube and gleefully ignoring emails all morning is my idea of heaven.—
Jackie Fields,
PEOPLE,
6 Nov. 2025
-
On July 4, after Zane confessed to feeling guilty about ignoring more texts from his family members, the chatbot offered to help Zane craft a terse message to them.—
Allison Gordon,
CNN Money,
6 Nov. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Mocking.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/mocking. Accessed 16 Nov. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share