as in sardonic
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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
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of mocking
Jonathan Bernstein, Rolling Stone, 23 Sep. 2025
Ryan Gaydos, FOXNews.com, 8 Mar. 2026
Strip Law is a show that prefers to keep everything very close to the surface, including its case-of-the-week mocking of how surface-level Las Vegas is — even if roughly half those cases don’t have much to do with Vegas at all.
—Daniel Fienberg, HollywoodReporter, 20 Feb. 2026
In his verse, Bad Bunny directly addresses the chats, calling attention to Rosselló’s mocking of the dead from Hurricane María and his rampant homophobia.
—Julyssa Lopez, Rolling Stone, 26 Jan. 2026
With a mocking appreciation for her overbearing family and caustic wit for her younger self, Yajia warmly works from the thesis that kids are extraordinarily weird, scary, and kind-of-dumb creatures who really don’t know any better.
—Brian Boone, Vulture, 12 Dec. 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
Barry Jackson, Miami Herald, 6 Mar. 2026
This might be the first time a film opens in theaters attached to a trailer for another movie mocking its franchise.
—James Hibberd, HollywoodReporter, 2 Mar. 2026
Nor was the fact that much of our president’s career has been spent mocking, belittling, and degrading women.
—Brittany Pettersen, Denver Post, 27 Feb. 2026
Does protecting safety, fairness and dignity in women’s sports include mocking them from the highest office in the land?
—Heidi Stevens, Chicago Tribune, 25 Feb. 2026
Newsom, who hasn't ruled out a run for president in 2028, actively challenges Trump, often mocking the president's aggressive style on social media.
—Brittney Melton, NPR, 24 Feb. 2026
Jon Stewart took aim at Kash Patel on the latest episode of The Daily Show, mocking the FBI director for joining the Team USA men’s hockey team after their big Olympics win.
—Emily Zemler, Rolling Stone, 24 Feb. 2026
Neither Fishback nor anyone else can build a future among a diverse population while mocking prayer.
—Steven Burg, Sun Sentinel, 23 Feb. 2026
This self-mocking move may be just the prelude to a fuller jeans-guy renaissance, Heffernan suggested.
—Daniel Engber, The Atlantic, 20 Feb. 2026
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 decision received some mocking on social media.
—Ryan Gaydos, FOXNews.com, 8 Mar. 2026
Strip Law is a show that prefers to keep everything very close to the surface, including its case-of-the-week mocking of how surface-level Las Vegas is — even if roughly half those cases don’t have much to do with Vegas at all.
—Daniel Fienberg, HollywoodReporter, 20 Feb. 2026
In his verse, Bad Bunny directly addresses the chats, calling attention to Rosselló’s mocking of the dead from Hurricane María and his rampant homophobia.
—Julyssa Lopez, Rolling Stone, 26 Jan. 2026
With a mocking appreciation for her overbearing family and caustic wit for her younger self, Yajia warmly works from the thesis that kids are extraordinarily weird, scary, and kind-of-dumb creatures who really don’t know any better.
—Brian Boone, Vulture, 12 Dec. 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
And Georgia tackle Monroe Freeling, who wasn’t even a first round pick in several mock drafts in January, is now routinely being projected for the top 12, with longtime analyst Dane Brugler mocking him 11th to Miami in his draft this week for the Athletic.
—Barry Jackson, Miami Herald, 6 Mar. 2026
This might be the first time a film opens in theaters attached to a trailer for another movie mocking its franchise.
—James Hibberd, HollywoodReporter, 2 Mar. 2026
Nor was the fact that much of our president’s career has been spent mocking, belittling, and degrading women.
—Brittany Pettersen, Denver Post, 27 Feb. 2026
Does protecting safety, fairness and dignity in women’s sports include mocking them from the highest office in the land?
—Heidi Stevens, Chicago Tribune, 25 Feb. 2026
Newsom, who hasn't ruled out a run for president in 2028, actively challenges Trump, often mocking the president's aggressive style on social media.
—Brittney Melton, NPR, 24 Feb. 2026
Jon Stewart took aim at Kash Patel on the latest episode of The Daily Show, mocking the FBI director for joining the Team USA men’s hockey team after their big Olympics win.
—Emily Zemler, Rolling Stone, 24 Feb. 2026
Neither Fishback nor anyone else can build a future among a diverse population while mocking prayer.
—Steven Burg, Sun Sentinel, 23 Feb. 2026
This self-mocking move may be just the prelude to a fuller jeans-guy renaissance, Heffernan suggested.
—Daniel Engber, The Atlantic, 20 Feb. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for mocking
Adjective
-
Her comments drew some undeservedly sardonic criticism online for their apparent disconnect to winning a 250 semifinal, but that was perhaps the point.—
James Hansen,
New York Times,
2 Mar. 2026
-
Cynical and sardonic, Emma is a bright and caring veterinarian who lives at home in a coven with her vampire parents, Charles and Liz.—
Nellie Andreeva,
Deadline,
9 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
In response, track athlete Alysia Montaño crafted a video in conjunction with the New York Times, parodying Nike’s sponsor’s ad.—
Dana O’Neil,
CNN Money,
7 Feb. 2026
-
These are the exact type of tried-and-true New Yorkers and New York hip-hop heads the Bodega Boys blew up by parodying with their frequently unhinged back-and-forth.—
Alphonse Pierre,
Pitchfork,
6 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
Other potential candidates, such as Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and Gavin Newsom, have achieved fame by berating and ridiculing the other side.—
Graeme Wood,
The Atlantic,
3 Mar. 2026
-
Humiliating him would be like ridiculing the queen to her face.—
Roger Bennett,
Fortune,
2 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
What is the penalty for disobeying a traffic signal?—
Emery Glover,
Des Moines Register,
16 Feb. 2026
-
The country's Supreme Court of Justice removed him from office in 2017 and sentenced him to prison for disobeying a court order to remove barricades during protests against the government of then-President Nicolás Maduro.—
Patricia Gallagher Newberry,
Cincinnati Enquirer,
31 Jan. 2026
Adjective
-
This was met by derisive laughter in the locker room, where, coincidentally, the director of the FBI was chugging a beer and joining in the uproar.—
DP Opinion,
Denver Post,
28 Feb. 2026
-
The revelation quickly made headlines, and the social-media peanut gallery was sharply derisive.—
Emma Sandler,
Vogue,
15 Dec. 2025
Noun
-
Here’s what winning a National Championship taught me about B2B sales 🏆 (kidding…kinda) 1.—
Greg Rosenstein,
NBC news,
22 Jan. 2026
-
Just kidding, Kim’s is a real and rational response, but Natalie is not having it.—
Brian Moylan,
Vulture,
31 Dec. 2025
Verb
-
The Jall Wake Up Light Sunrise Alarm Clock uses this science by imitating the sun’s gradual rise and, when used over time, can even ease your circadian rhythm into a pattern.—
BestReviews,
Chicago Tribune,
5 Mar. 2026
-
In critiquing Trump on social media, Newsom has taken to imitating the president’s tone, trolling Trump in his all-caps style.—
Meg Kinnard,
Fortune,
3 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
The bar claims the firm refused to remove the attorney’s name from its website for years, ignoring a cease and desist letter from McBratney’s new employer.—
Rebecca Ellis,
Los Angeles Times,
10 Mar. 2026
-
Andersen advises ignoring any one particular economic indicator in favor of looking at longer term trends.—
Andrea Riquier,
USA Today,
10 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Mocking.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/mocking. Accessed 14 Mar. 2026.
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