1
as in parody
a work that imitates and exaggerates another work for comic effect
the movie is a rib of the "dramatic love story" that was so popular in the 1950s
Synonyms & Similar Words
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2
as in joke
something said or done to cause laughter
began to lose his sense of humor after being the butt of his friends' ribs once too often
Synonyms & Similar Words
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of rib
Miguel Otárola, Denver Post, 18 Feb. 2026
His injuries included a spinal fracture, a cervical cord injury and fractured ribs, court documents say.
—Kevin Grasha, Cincinnati Enquirer, 18 Feb. 2026
Eden Lichterman, InStyle, 29 Jan. 2026
The pullover features outer seam detailing along the arms for a playful touch and ribbing on the neckline and wrist cuffs that adds dimension.
—Melony Forcier, PEOPLE, 20 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for rib
Noun
Their $45 dinner menu offers eight choices for appetizers and six for entrees, including prime rib on a French roll with au jus and a truffle lobster melt and bisque.
—Miguel Otárola, Denver Post, 18 Feb. 2026
His injuries included a spinal fracture, a cervical cord injury and fractured ribs, court documents say.
—Kevin Grasha, Cincinnati Enquirer, 18 Feb. 2026
Verb
My favorite detail, though, is the contrast ribbing around the collar, hemline, and cuffs that gives the quarter-zip a boxy yet flattering shape.
—Eden Lichterman, InStyle, 29 Jan. 2026
The pullover features outer seam detailing along the arms for a playful touch and ribbing on the neckline and wrist cuffs that adds dimension.
—Melony Forcier, PEOPLE, 20 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for rib
Recent Examples of Synonyms for rib
Noun
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Humphrey, determined to recreate the video as accurately as possible, worked with Southwest to film her parody on a real plane with the same flight attendant from the first video.—
Kate Perez,
USA Today,
14 Feb. 2026
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The governor’s willingness to mock the president through aggressive social-media parody elevated him to de facto resistance leader.—
Mark Leibovich,
The Atlantic,
11 Feb. 2026
Noun
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Episodes are a blend of political analysis, jokes that test the boundaries of good taste, and interviews with high-profile guests.—
Aidan McLaughlin,
Vanity Fair,
19 Feb. 2026
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General catastrophizing Some people are naturally prone to anxiety and overthinking everything—like a work typo, or a throwaway joke that now feels catastrophic.—
Jenna Ryu,
SELF,
19 Feb. 2026
Verb
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There’s Manny, Zitzs and EZ, who has a way with the girls; Izzy, an abused boy who hides his family’s secrets, and Gloria, as good at sports as the boys and so fierce nobody teases her little sister about her stutter.—
Mary Ann Grossmann,
Twin Cities,
15 Feb. 2026
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Humphrey's work consists of reviewing thousands of messages and tags, seeking permission from original video creators and balancing humor with teasing.—
Kate Perez,
USA Today,
14 Feb. 2026
Noun
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The Dunkin’ superfan was back for his fourth consecutive year in the Boston chain’s Super Bowl commercial, this time for a spoof on his and Damon’s 1997 film Good Will Hunting.—
Lara Walsh,
InStyle,
9 Feb. 2026
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Guthrie went back to her alma mater The University of Arizona, greeting its president Suresh Garimella in one spoof and meeting sorority sisters at her own Pi Beta Phi in another skit.—
Chris Kenning,
USA Today,
4 Feb. 2026
Noun
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Its cast is exactly the sprightly ensemble needed to land its what-if laughs.—
Robert Abele,
Los Angeles Times,
20 Feb. 2026
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Uma said, her ominous laugh ending the movie.—
Sydney Bucksbaum,
Entertainment Weekly,
20 Feb. 2026
Verb
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But don’t kid yourself, if Crosby isn’t in uniform Friday, every single player in that dressing room will take their cue from the best player in the world.—
Pierre LeBrun,
New York Times,
19 Feb. 2026
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There are also cool maps on the local prevalence of certain health conditions, from arthritis and asthma to cancer and high cholesterol to diabetes and depression to — not kidding here — where people have lost all their teeth.—
Teri Sforza,
Oc Register,
11 Feb. 2026
Noun
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With a top-notch cast and slick production design, Churchill’s clever concoction of speculative fiction, corporate satire and family drama remains sharp and timely.—
Emily McClanathan,
Chicago Tribune,
20 Feb. 2026
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Deano follows a mischievous 8-year-old boy with a heart of gold, blending a modern family’s chaos with biting satire.—
Katie Campione,
Deadline,
20 Feb. 2026
Noun
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Written in a joking and contemptuous tone, the tweet would take on an indescribably morbid weight just five days later, when, at the behest of Governor Cláudio Castro, the Rio de Janeiro police carried out the deadliest massacre in the country’s history.—
Evandro Cruz Silva,
The Dial,
10 Feb. 2026
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Cole follows up with a joking request to appear on an interlude on the forthcoming project, then asks whether West could send him a care package of clothes — which West agrees to — before exiting the stage.—
Jessica Lynch,
Billboard,
28 Dec. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Rib.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/rib. Accessed 22 Feb. 2026.
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