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
Saturday’s offerings include the ribs plate and the signature platter called the Deep Cut, while Sunday’s menu includes a pork belly plate with cheesy grits and slaw and a smoked, griddled and cheesed burger. — Sam Flemming, AJC.com, 25 Oct. 2026 Denim is a sturdy cotton textile that is woven in a twill pattern, creating a distinctive diagonal rib on the fabric’s surface. — Britannica Editors, Encyclopedia Britannica, 23 Oct. 2026
Verb
Tons of fall styles are included in the sale, such as ribbed knit and Herringbone dresses made for work days, weekends, and crisp weather. — Nicol Natale, PEOPLE, 25 Sep. 2026 Leather maintains more traditional materials for the midle two stripes and tongue, but further reinforcements come via ribbed laces that should provide greater lockdown. — Ian Servantes, Footwear News, 23 Sep. 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
  • And my parody of Ronald Reagan is now in the White House, right?
    — John Bleasdale, Variety, 31 Oct. 2026
  • The album’s experimental bent is also what keeps the music from slipping into parody or, even worse, po-faced sincerity.
    — Sadie Sartini Garner, Pitchfork, 30 Oct. 2026
Definition of parody
Noun
  • The chain, which has over 200 locations in the United States, was recently caught in a culture war against its will, sparked by a joke from former President Barack Obama on its aesthetic.
    — Ramishah Maruf, CNN Money, 1 Nov. 2026
  • Later on during Weekend Update, Michael Che made a joke about Israel that made Jost jokingly grimace.
    — Marlow Stern, Variety, 1 Nov. 2026
Definition of joke
Verb
  • Additionally, Weir applauded a commitment to supporting women founders across the UK that was teased in the Budget, highlighting that six in 10 shows during LFW are headed up by women.
    — Joe Bobowicz, Vogue, 29 Oct. 2026
  • There’s just enough teasing to allow the Elriel and the Gwynriel wars to keep raging for a few months.
    — Kathryn VanArendonk, Vulture, 28 Oct. 2026
Definition of tease
Noun
  • The spoof of early Hollywood’s swashbuckling action-adventure movies is one of the comedy titan’s most quotable films, thanks in large part to the timing of the cast.
    — Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 29 Oct. 2026
  • The film draws on 1980s supernatural comedies, including Back to the Future, Ghostbusters and The Addams Family, alongside classic monster movies and horror spoofs.
    — Scott Roxborough, HollywoodReporter, 22 Oct. 2026
Definition of spoof
Noun
  • Got lots of laughs, and one boy actually preferred the packets.
    — Chicago Tribune, Chicago Tribune, 30 Oct. 2026
  • That’s also a movie where laughs come in inappropriate places, but Labute got the benefit of the doubt as an unknown with no corporate support.
    — Jim Hemphill, IndieWire, 30 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 host was once positioned as an irreverent comedian whose political satire was guided by his no-BS take on Capitol Hill and American culture.
    — Lorraine Ali, Los Angeles Times, 28 Oct. 2026
  • Whether developing a series pitch or sitting around sharing stories, Kevin brought the wit, the funny, the satire.
    — Pat Saperstein, Variety, 27 Oct. 2026
Definition of satire
Noun
  • As the audience applauded, Stewart launched into his joking eulogy.
    — Shania Russell, Entertainment Weekly, 29 Oct. 2026
  • 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
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 4 Nov. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on rib

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about rib

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