as in joking
marked by or expressive of mild or good-natured teasing
the lightly ribbing tone tipped me off that this wasn't a serious reprimand
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
as in mocking
Related Words
as in teasing
to make fun of in a good-natured way
ribbed him a bit about fumbling such an easy play
Synonyms & Similar Words
Example Sentences
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show current usage.
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Recent Examples of ribbing
Malia Griggs, Glamour, 26 Nov. 2025
This crewneck cardigan is one of the most timeless and versatile pieces on this list, with subtle ribbing and flared sleeves that add a bit of volume to the otherwise figure-skimming sweater.
—Sophie Dodd, Travel + Leisure, 11 Nov. 2025
Ben Watanabe, MSNBC Newsweek, 7 Nov. 2025
Esiason's ribbing comes after a recent lighthearted back-and-forth between Waldman and Dave Sims, the play-by-play voice of the Bronx Bombers.
—Chantz Martin, FOXNews.com, 9 Oct. 2025
Melony Forcier, PEOPLE, 20 Jan. 2026
Even Maye has gotten in on the fun, according to Pats quarterbacks coach Ashton Grant, who says he’s been ribbing Josh in meetings.
—Andrew Callahan, Boston Herald, 16 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for ribbing
Adjective
This strapless bra delivers a surprising amount of support and structure, with a longline silhouette, hook-and-eye closure, and subtle ribbing that give it a slightly corset-like feel.
—Malia Griggs, Glamour, 26 Nov. 2025
This crewneck cardigan is one of the most timeless and versatile pieces on this list, with subtle ribbing and flared sleeves that add a bit of volume to the otherwise figure-skimming sweater.
—Sophie Dodd, Travel + Leisure, 11 Nov. 2025
Noun
His coaches, Roy Hallenbeck and Ken Williams, subjected him to the same ribbing as every other player, even teasing him about his preference for wearing the same size too-small jersey for all four years, so that by senior year his biceps stretched the sleeves to their limit.
—Ben Watanabe, MSNBC Newsweek, 7 Nov. 2025
Esiason's ribbing comes after a recent lighthearted back-and-forth between Waldman and Dave Sims, the play-by-play voice of the Bronx Bombers.
—Chantz Martin, FOXNews.com, 9 Oct. 2025
Verb
The pullover features outer seam detailing along the arms for a playful touch and ribbing on the neckline and wrist cuffs that adds dimension.
—Melony Forcier, PEOPLE, 20 Jan. 2026
Even Maye has gotten in on the fun, according to Pats quarterbacks coach Ashton Grant, who says he’s been ribbing Josh in meetings.
—Andrew Callahan, Boston Herald, 16 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for ribbing
Recent Examples of Synonyms for ribbing
Noun
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Strip Law is a show that prefers to keep everything very close to the surface, including its case-of-the-week mocking of how surface-level Las Vegas is — even if roughly half those cases don’t have much to do with Vegas at all.—
Daniel Fienberg,
HollywoodReporter,
20 Feb. 2026
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In his verse, Bad Bunny directly addresses the chats, calling attention to Rosselló’s mocking of the dead from Hurricane María and his rampant homophobia.—
Julyssa Lopez,
Rolling Stone,
26 Jan. 2026
Verb
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Pre-seeding While EMV levels may cool off quickly in the months following a launch, brands are increasingly drumming up pre-launch interest by teasing newness and seeding products to creators, in some cases, months in advance.—
Noor Lobad,
Footwear News,
27 Feb. 2026
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After a flurry of activity since teasing reunion shows last March, the band will release A Wave That Will Never Break, produced by Spacemen 3’s Sonic Boom, on April 10.—
Jazz Monroe,
Pitchfork,
25 Feb. 2026
Noun
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His razzing of The Problem With Jon Stewart was the best grace note on the piece.—
Bethy Squires,
Vulture,
12 Dec. 2025
Verb
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There are also cool maps on the local prevalence of certain health conditions, from arthritis and asthma to cancer and high cholesterol to diabetes and depression to — not kidding here — where people have lost all their teeth.—
Teri Sforza,
Oc Register,
11 Feb. 2026
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Literally toxic lesbians — kidding.—
Fran Hoepfner,
Vulture,
1 Dec. 2025
Verb
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Shitposting, Topinka explains, makes good-faith engagement impossible and critics look foolish because the shitposter is plausibly joking.—
Malavika Kannan,
Vulture,
3 Mar. 2026
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Gold medalists Hilary Knight and Megan Keller joined Heated Rivalry star Connor Storrie onstage at Saturday Night Live; the Hughes brothers were there too, with some joking around seemingly meant to display a sense that all is good between the men's and women's teams.—
Emma Hinchliffe,
Fortune,
2 Mar. 2026
Adjective
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Moving between longing, sarcastic humor and anger, Penelope is a life-affirming feminist romance that makes an ancient legend, first told thousands of years ago, still relevant today.—
Manuel Mendoza,
Dallas Morning News,
26 Feb. 2026
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As Torquay’s women’s team were beating Gloucester on Sunday, commenters left sarcastic replies under the club’s social media updates.—
Greg O'Keeffe,
New York Times,
23 Feb. 2026
Noun
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The elderly poor, their lives often confined by walking distance and monthly government checks, find richness in memories.—
Miami Herald Archives,
Miami Herald,
27 Feb. 2026
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Autumn palettes, unsurprisingly, are defined by warmth and richness, echoing the season’s shifting leaves.—
Conçetta Ciarlo,
Vogue,
26 Feb. 2026
Noun
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Artists who speak out against this use also typically wind up spawning a gleeful response from the admin, usually filled with lots of half-baked wordplay.—
Jon Blistein,
Rolling Stone,
27 Feb. 2026
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Layered within the show’s heartfelt humor is also sophisticated wordplay and cultural references.—
Liz Regalia,
Parents,
31 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Ribbing.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/ribbing. Accessed 5 Mar. 2026.
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