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
Paul Sullivan, Chicago Tribune, 17 June 2026
Tableside preparations spread across the land, from prime-rib carts to flaming desserts.
—Jeremy Repanich, Robb Report, 16 June 2026
Abbey Mastracco, New York Daily News, 7 June 2026
The chic co-ord features a relaxed sleeveless top and ribbed wide-leg bottoms.
—Kyra Surgent, InStyle, 3 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for rib
Noun
And Aaron Judge remained out of the Yankees lineup with a stress fracture of his right rib, removing one of the game’s biggest stars from the series.
—Paul Sullivan, Chicago Tribune, 17 June 2026
Tableside preparations spread across the land, from prime-rib carts to flaming desserts.
—Jeremy Repanich, Robb Report, 16 June 2026
Verb
The left-hander has stuck with the Mavs, despite his buddies back home ribbing him about the Spurs and Victor Wembanyama.
—Abbey Mastracco, New York Daily News, 7 June 2026
The chic co-ord features a relaxed sleeveless top and ribbed wide-leg bottoms.
—Kyra Surgent, InStyle, 3 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for rib
Recent Examples of Synonyms for rib
Noun
-
Ru’s previous movies, like her blaxploitation parody series Starrbooty, are entertainingly low-budget ridiculousness but not worth paying to see on the big screen.—
Jason P. Frank,
Vulture,
12 June 2026
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For Entertainment Weekly's Scary Movie cover story, the returning protagonist of the first four entries in the horror parody franchise broke down all the films that co-creators and co-writers Shawn and Marlon Wayans set Faris up to knock down in the latest.—
Ryan Coleman,
Entertainment Weekly,
11 June 2026
Noun
-
Their purpose was partly decorative and partly protective, but the visual joke became unavoidable.—
Peter Lyon,
Forbes.com,
18 June 2026
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The fierce woman who always wore black, who could light up a room with her sly jokes and smoky laughter, grew quieter and more fragile after losing her lover.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
18 June 2026
Verb
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As Akanji whipped in a teasing delivery from the right, Embolo headed the ball down.—
Dermot Corrigan,
New York Times,
13 June 2026
-
Images from 2004 show the sisters hiding their low ponytails under buttoned jackets and fur collars; the tops of their heads teased.—
Kaleigh Werner,
Footwear News,
12 June 2026
Noun
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The spoof specifically references the franchise's famously creepy smile in several scenes and photos.—
Caroline Blair,
PEOPLE,
10 June 2026
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Based on the Apple TV series, the fizzy throwback spoofs Golden Age musicals, and follows an on-the-rocks couple who are trapped in a town where people sing and dance incessantly.—
Patrick Ryan,
USA Today,
8 June 2026
Noun
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The fallout of that inquiry—to which Joe and Angela gamely acquiesce—generates its share of laughs, though our amusement comes at a cost.—
Justin Chang,
New Yorker,
19 June 2026
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There are definitely laughs in Maddie’s Secret, but the point of the movie is almost to get beyond them, to the place where naive hokum could yield moments of inexplicable resonance.—
Alison Willmore,
Vulture,
19 June 2026
Verb
-
Though Lee likes to kid, his respect for Clemens runs deep.—
Dan Hayes,
New York Times,
17 June 2026
-
The connection to nature at Vista Celestial is truly profound, with wildlife waiting for you at the door—I'm not kidding, at one point, a capuchin monkey walked onto our patio to say hello.—
Christina Perrier,
InStyle,
8 June 2026
Noun
-
Why does satire sometimes reveal truth more effectively than journalism?—
Marc Adelman,
HollywoodReporter,
16 June 2026
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The Disney+ show about a struggling actor with actual superpowers who struggles to land a role in a superhero movie is as much of a Hollywood satire as a comic book adaptation.—
Christian Zilko,
IndieWire,
15 June 2026
Noun
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Still, Yoon’s joking somehow lightens the mood.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
11 June 2026
-
Sometimes a playful comment, an unexpected reply or a joking callout between brands takes on a life of its own online.—
Expert Panel®,
Forbes.com,
20 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Rib.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/rib. Accessed 20 Jun. 2026.
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