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
The 49ers are still waiting for second-year pro Jordan James to return from a rib injury. — Chris Biderman, Sacbee.com, 21 Aug. 2026 As the Danube waters shrank in Bulgaria, researchers were thrilled to find and recover a jawbone, tusks, a shoulder blade, ribs and other bone fragments belonging to an extinct woolly mammoth buried deep in the sand. — CBS News, 20 Aug. 2026
Verb
Moreover, the shirts feature a subtle vertical ribbing, which creates a flattering, torso-elongating effect. — Sophie Wirt, InStyle, 19 July 2026 Lee ribbed the audience and watched as a case opened to reveal a miniature Cup. — Bob Gendron, Chicago Tribune, 9 July 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
  • Both shows make use of the parody defense, of course, that being the sly way for comedic artists to cash in on someone else’s intellectual property by insisting that their motives are honorably satirical.
    — Chris Jones, Chicago Tribune, 24 Aug. 2026
  • Watch Sioux Falls’ parody on the Austin and Colin YouTube channel or visit their website.
    — Angela George, Sioux Falls Argus Leader, 24 Aug. 2026
Definition of parody
Noun
  • Now the adults are growing up a little bit, and that adds depth to the show but doesn’t sacrifice jokes.
    — Emily Gould, Vulture, 24 Aug. 2026
  • His cutlery’s subtly unusual proportions manage to be elegant and playful at the same time, like that perfect joke that lands gracefully at a cocktail party, where everyone laughs and nobody chortles.
    — Emily Watlington, ARTnews.com, 24 Aug. 2026
Definition of joke
Verb
  • There was a few months of speculation that Grande and Álvarez had reunited, with Grande coyly teasing their coupledom.
    — Anna Cafolla, Vogue, 22 Aug. 2026
  • The launch is the inaugural step in Shiseido’s bigger strategy of building a credible reputation in fragrances for Max Mara, as executives teased other launches are on the way.
    — Sandra Salibian, Footwear News, 21 Aug. 2026
Definition of tease
Noun
  • The actor's limited screen time, primarily relegated to head-nodding and offering reassurance to Odysseus, has sparked memes on social media, including a Kratos spoof of her character.
    — Saman Shafiq, USA Today, 7 Aug. 2026
  • Spaceballs saw Moranis as Lord Dark Helmet, the villainous spoof of Star Wars’ iconic villain Darth Vader.
    — Rachel Raposas, PEOPLE, 5 Aug. 2026
Definition of spoof
Noun
  • Gone was the terror of wondering if the piece that was about to air was going to get big enough laughs from the live audience.
    — Merrill Markoe, Deadline, 21 Aug. 2026
  • But that blend of raucous laughs (OK, well, some raucous laughs, some mere attempts at them) and real world concerns makes for an uneasy watch, ping-ponging between moods and tones in unpredictable ways.
    — Kate Erbland, IndieWire, 20 Aug. 2026
Definition of laugh
Verb
  • What everyday skills should kids practice before the first week of school?
    — Ashley Lynch, Kansas City Star, 10 Aug. 2026
  • Running under the surface of the film is the anxiety that kids his age are lucky to secure any job, even one as low-paying and exploitative as Erika’s studio assistant.
    — Amy Nicholson, Los Angeles Times, 30 July 2026
Definition of kid
Noun
  • Tony Yacenda and Dan Perrault, creators of the 2017 Netflix true-crime satire series American Vandal, serve as showrunners, writers, and executive producers, with Yacenda set to direct all episodes.
    — Nellie Andreeva, Deadline, 21 Aug. 2026
  • With its möbius-strip-esque structure, this surreal social class satire about grief, urban alienation and gentrification in the city of Lagos explores the lost hope of the Nigerian dream.
    — Georg Szalai, HollywoodReporter, 15 Aug. 2026
Definition of satire
Noun
  • Back in December 1968, Dolan wrote a joking column about the earlier Lake Worth monster, from way back in 1947.
    — Star-Telegram staff, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 10 July 2026
  • Oh, but the Padres manager was ready with the joking last night.
    — Kevin Acee, San Diego Union-Tribune, 21 June 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 26 Aug. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on rib

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about rib

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