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
Matt Barrows, New York Times, 1 Oct. 2025
Jennings is battling ankle and rib injuries, while Pearsall has been limited by a knee issue.
—Scott Thompson, FOXNews.com, 1 Oct. 2025
Stephanie Osmanski, Better Homes & Gardens, 27 Aug. 2025
Other fast-casual chains also got in on the ribbing, including Steak n’ Shake, which embodies its own 1950s aesthetic.
—Elizabeth Crisp, The Hill, 21 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for rib
Noun
Also out for the 49ers on Thursday night will be wide receivers Ricky Pearsall (knee), Jauan Jennings (ankle, ribs) and Jordan Watkins (calf).
—Matt Barrows, New York Times, 1 Oct. 2025
Jennings is battling ankle and rib injuries, while Pearsall has been limited by a knee issue.
—Scott Thompson, FOXNews.com, 1 Oct. 2025
Verb
It’s ribbed for an extra cozy touch and has a flattering empire waist that will pair nicely with fall-friendly boots—either ankle or knee length.
—Stephanie Osmanski, Better Homes & Gardens, 27 Aug. 2025
Other fast-casual chains also got in on the ribbing, including Steak n’ Shake, which embodies its own 1950s aesthetic.
—Elizabeth Crisp, The Hill, 21 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for rib
Recent Examples of Synonyms for rib
Noun
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Her only acting credit so far is a short parody sketch called AI Commissioner.—
Aamir Khollam,
Interesting Engineering,
1 Oct. 2025
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Aimee Lou Wood doesn’t regret criticizing Saturday Night Live over their parody of her character on The White Lotus.—
McKinley Franklin,
HollywoodReporter,
30 Sep. 2025
Noun
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According to The New York Times, Chappelle — who has been under fired for his transphobic jokes in the past — used his comedy set at the Riyadh Comedy Festival to speak about the lack of freedom of speech in the United States, especially in the wake of Charlie Kirk’s killing.—
Emily Zemler,
Rolling Stone,
3 Oct. 2025
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People taking offense at jokes simply didn’t land as a news story anymore.—
David Weigel,
semafor.com,
3 Oct. 2025
Verb
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Jay Som is teasing her new album Belong (out Friday) with a song featuring Hayley Williams.—
Jonathan Bernstein,
Rolling Stone,
7 Oct. 2025
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The creative teams tease what's ahead in 2026 from IDW Dark.—
Nick Romano,
Entertainment Weekly,
7 Oct. 2025
Noun
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After all, that warped sitcom spoof has to be one of the most genuinely demented things to ever air, without a shred of warning and in the middle of the night, on cable TV.—
A.A. Dowd,
Vulture,
3 Oct. 2025
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Moranis, Zuniga, Pullman, Brooks, and Wyner are set to reprise their iconic roles in the sequel to the 1987 sci-fi spoof, with Gad, Palmer, Lewis Pullman, and Anthony Carrigan playing new, undisclosed characters.—
Joey Nolfi,
Entertainment Weekly,
25 Sep. 2025
Noun
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In fact, the toddler's laugh can actually be heard on the record.—
Mark Gray,
PEOPLE,
5 Oct. 2025
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Like most anthologies, horror or otherwise, they can be hit or miss, though just about every one of the individual segments in the franchise is good for a scare or at least a laugh.—
A.A. Dowd,
Vulture,
3 Oct. 2025
Verb
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But don’t kid yourself, this thing is about as aerodynamic as a shoebox taped to a cinder block.—
New Atlas,
New Atlas,
27 Sep. 2025
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Now, Wilson is showing off his brand's latest back-to-school collection as part of Macy's x Rookie kids fashion show, and his three eldest kids walked the runway.—
Skyler Caruso,
PEOPLE,
19 Sep. 2025
Noun
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While not everyone took to Cult’s broad political satire, it’s still considered a fine mid-era installment.—
Declan Gallagher,
Entertainment Weekly,
5 Oct. 2025
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While framed as satire, the content references child exploitation, raising questions about the adequacy of Sora 2’s safeguards.—
Martha McHardy,
MSNBC Newsweek,
3 Oct. 2025
Verb
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Brushed with a maltose syrup glaze, the ducks roast in a custom oven over a water bath, where fat drips into water instead of flames, keeping the meat moist and the smoke clean.—
Mackensy Lunsford,
Nashville Tennessean,
2 Oct. 2025
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Terri, a 71-year-old cosmetic dentist, roasted Mel through her puppet, a sassy lady named Carly.—
Kristen Baldwin,
Entertainment Weekly,
2 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Rib.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/rib. Accessed 9 Oct. 2025.
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