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
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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
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of rib
Nicole Hoey, Robb Report, 10 June 2026
This diner-style mom-and-pop has ribs and pan-seared tuna, but every South Floridian swears by its straightforward and excellent burger, an Angus beef half-pounder on a seeded bun.
—Phillip Valys, Sun Sentinel, 10 June 2026
Nadia Hassani, The Spruce, 1 May 2026
Murphy returned the favor by ribbing him by saying that every time Lee’s beloved New York Knicks lost their bid to become NBA champs, Lee was in the building.
—Chris Gardner, HollywoodReporter, 19 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for rib
Noun
One account included a woman who was allegedly punched in the ribs by Redzepi and subsequently fell into a counter and cut her hip.
—Nicole Hoey, Robb Report, 10 June 2026
This diner-style mom-and-pop has ribs and pan-seared tuna, but every South Floridian swears by its straightforward and excellent burger, an Angus beef half-pounder on a seeded bun.
—Phillip Valys, Sun Sentinel, 10 June 2026
Verb
This late-maturing Mexican heirloom tomato is as sweet and tasty as much as it is heavily ribbed.
—Nadia Hassani, The Spruce, 1 May 2026
Murphy returned the favor by ribbing him by saying that every time Lee’s beloved New York Knicks lost their bid to become NBA champs, Lee was in the building.
—Chris Gardner, HollywoodReporter, 19 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for rib
Recent Examples of Synonyms for rib
Noun
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Her opening number, a parody of her Moulin Rouge!—
Jason P. Frank,
Vulture,
8 June 2026
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Published in 1811, the novel is greeted as a parody of sensibility.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
8 June 2026
Noun
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Despite all of the excellent jokes, ultimately Night Night Fawn can be nothing other than a tragedy.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
11 June 2026
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In casual conversation, it’s treated as a biological footnote, something between a quirk and a joke.—
Scott Travers,
Forbes.com,
11 June 2026
Verb
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Not many 49ers can openly tease and/or taunt an opponent without fear of repercussions.—
Cam Inman,
Mercury News,
7 June 2026
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She's teased there will be harnesses.—
Dave Quinn,
PEOPLE,
7 June 2026
Noun
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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
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Early-aughts nostalgia paid off better than ’80s, as Masters of the Universe’s box-office numbers trailed behind the horror spoof.—
Bethy Squires,
Vulture,
7 June 2026
Noun
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Guiterrez was killed just days before her 20th birthday and was described on GoFundMe by her sister as having the silliest laugh and biggest smiles, and giving the best hugs.—
Clara Harter,
Los Angeles Times,
12 June 2026
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Often, the laughs on the show are generated by a delicate interplay between the music and the sound design.—
Jim Hemphill,
IndieWire,
12 June 2026
Verb
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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
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And even while kidding, Kupp couldn’t help but say out loud what many Rams followers are thinking.—
Steve Henson,
Los Angeles Times,
4 June 2026
Noun
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Federal agents training alongside UFC fighters, a title contender working out inside FBI headquarters and a UFC event on White House grounds would have sounded like satire just a few years ago.—
Alejandro Avila OutKick,
FOXNews.com,
11 June 2026
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In this section, artists Wendy Red Star, Omar Victor Diop, Yuki Kihara, Frida Orupabo, and Dimakatso Mathopa mine the tropes and cliches borne of these images, and through satire and recontextualization, offer works that center their own empowerment and subjectivity.—
The Editors of ARTnews,
ARTnews.com,
10 June 2026
Noun
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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
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Despite that underlying tension, kids play on the street outside while the large family has a dynamic like any other — noisily squabbling, joking, or in the case of the matriarchal grandmother, Mariam (Hiam Abbass), preparing a meal in a kitchen plagued by constant utility outages.—
David Rooney,
HollywoodReporter,
15 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Rib.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/rib. Accessed 14 Jun. 2026.
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