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

Synonyms & Similar Words

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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

Synonyms & Similar Words

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 lawsuit alleges the McRib sandwiches don't contain any pork rib meat and are made from lower-grade pork products instead. — ABC News, 2 Nov. 2026 The judge also said ads highlighting the meat’s rib-like shape could support a claim of intent to defraud, though further proof was needed. — Reuters, NBC news, 31 Oct. 2026
Verb
Happy hour at home gets a designer twist with these trendy ribbed tumblers that can sport salt rims for margaritas and stack neatly on your bar cart. — Audrey Lee, Architectural Digest, 6 Oct. 2026 Fellow Knicks starters Karl-Anthony Towns, Mikal Bridges, OG Anunoby, and Josh Hart are called on from the audience for some light ribbing, then join Brunson on the stage. — Andy Hoglund, Entertainment Weekly, 27 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
  • As Dave Chappelle takes backlash for a joke at Charlie Kirk‘s expense, the late Turning Point USA founder’s widow has responded.
    — Glenn Garner, Deadline, 8 Nov. 2026
  • This all happened after years in which the President and the Vice-President have deployed racist epithets, jokes, and myths.
    — David Remnick, New Yorker, 7 Nov. 2026
Definition of joke
Verb
  • The change includes a new logo, as seen teased through her spring 2027 collection on the back of an artisanal white jacket along with updating its website and url to reflect the new name.
    — Emily Mercer, Footwear News, 12 Nov. 2026
  • The fest had previously teased Bridgers’ announcement on social media with imagery of the ghost on the cover of the artist’s Stranger in the Alps album in cornfields and hanging out with concertgoers at the fest.
    — Kory Grow, Rolling Stone, 11 Nov. 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
  • What really sets Black Doves apart, though, are its lovable characters and its beguiling mix of laughs and tears, which flirt with existential despair without ever fully tipping into it.
    — Angie Han, HollywoodReporter, 5 Nov. 2026
  • The two also shared a laugh over Lewis’ first impressions of the twins.
    — Angelique Brenes, PEOPLE, 4 Nov. 2026
Definition of laugh
Verb
  • Blake Shelton The 2017 honoree officially became stepdad to Gwen Stefani‘s kids Kingston, Zuma and Apollo in 2021.
    — Maria Yagoda, PEOPLE, 27 Oct. 2026
  • 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
Definition of kid
Noun
  • Blending horror, satire and high school social politics, Cheerleaders centers on an elite Southern California high school cheerleading squad hiding the fact that its members have become the living dead.
    — Kimberly Nordyke, HollywoodReporter, 10 Nov. 2026
  • Later installments expanded that freedom with larger environments, cinematic storytelling, social satire and detailed worlds.
    — Jonathan Landrum Jr, Chicago Tribune, 9 Nov. 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 13 Nov. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on rib

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about rib

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