rib 1 of 2

noun

Definition of ribnext
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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rib

2 of 2

verb

as in to tease
to make fun of in a good-natured way ribbed him a bit about fumbling such an easy play

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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 rib
Noun
As a result, Da’Juan was left concussed, and Nikole broke two ribs. — Kansas City Star, 15 Oct. 2026 For a taste of Boise history, now is a good time to visit the dining room for a Reuben sandwich or a slice of prime rib. — Michael Deeds, Idaho Statesman, 15 Oct. 2026
Verb
It’s designed with a darling sailor-style collar accentuated with white stitching that extends down the front, while the red knit is complemented with ribbing at the hem and sleeves. — Merrell Readman, Travel + Leisure, 24 Aug. 2026 Mussel shells can be smooth or ribbed with concentric ridges. — Encyclopedia Britannica, 18 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for rib
Recent Examples of Synonyms for rib
  1. parody
  2. joke
  3. tease
  4. spoof
  5. laugh
  6. kid
  7. satire
  8. joking
Noun
  • The Black performer remains the template of the parody, a canvas to characterize and deform in whatever way the meme-maker sees fit.
    — Brady Brickner-Wood, New Yorker, 19 Oct. 2026
  • Did that feel like a parody of my ego, or also a way to make fun of it?
    — Alex Weprin, HollywoodReporter, 15 Oct. 2026
Definition of parody
Noun
  • Its frothy, pastel hues and single moment of contrived levity (when one dance claims a trumpet solo for a joke about jamming her toe) is one of those quintessential examples of Balanchine’s repertoire showing its age.
    — Lauren Warnecke, Chicago Tribune, 18 Oct. 2026
  • And the Longhorns’ quarterback, Arch Manning, was the butt of the joke.
    — Noah White, Miami Herald, 18 Oct. 2026
Definition of joke
Verb
  • When appearing on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon last week, the Canadian pop singer teased the single.
    — Charisma Madarang, Rolling Stone, 16 Oct. 2026
  • Mahomes began teasing the collection last week with several posts on her Instagram.
    — Lisa Gutierrez, Kansas City Star, 15 Oct. 2026
Definition of tease
Noun
  • Was there ever a thought that maybe the whole movie should just be a ’90s spoof?
    — Mike Ryan, IndieWire, 16 Oct. 2026
  • Blanchett cofounded the nonprofit Human Consent Foundation to help people register how AI models can — or cannot — scrape their likenesses in an effort to combat such spoofs.
    — Corbin Bolies, Variety, 13 Oct. 2026
Definition of spoof
Noun
  • But acknowledging a property’s cheesy elements isn’t the same as generating consistent laughs from the situation.
    — Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 16 Oct. 2026
  • Among the biggest laughs of the ceremony came during Friml’s take on an awards-show in memoriam.
    — Destiny Jackson, Deadline, 15 Oct. 2026
Definition of laugh
Verb
  • But kidding aside, AI used in the right way can make people smarter about their health, more so than most realize.
    — Amanda Gerut, Fortune, 13 Oct. 2026
  • Pursuing big goals while parenting shows kids the value of hard work and resilience.
    — Lauren Brown West-Rosenthal, Parents, 15 Sep. 2026
Definition of kid
Noun
  • The author behind the singular Elizabeth Zott returns with ‘Peck & Peck,’ a sharp, charming satire on the pretensions and perils of literary gatekeepers.
    — Leigh Haber, Los Angeles Times, 13 Oct. 2026
  • Previous Disney Germany shows nclude Call my Agent Berlin, Jörg Winger’s Sam – A Saxon and The Interpreter of Silence, while upcoming is Austrian satire Vienna Game, thriller Nele Neuhaus Monster and Swiss production Under the Ice.
    — Max Goldbart, Deadline, 12 Oct. 2026
Definition of satire
Noun
  • Russell was mentioned in that speech, but in a joking way, playing off of how frequent Oscars director Glenn Weiss, who won for his role helming the 2018 Academy Awards telecast, had used his speech to propose to his then-girlfriend.
    — Hilary Lewis, HollywoodReporter, 9 Oct. 2026
  • Arch Manning's joking comments at a news conference about a fake video of coach Steve Sarkisian slapping ESPN reporter Holly Rowe erupted in controversy.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 17 Sep. 2026
Definition of joking

Browse Nearby Words

riatas
rib
ribald
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Cite this Entry

“Rib.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/rib. Accessed 20 Oct. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on rib

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about rib

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