1
as in parodies
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
Relevance
2
as in jokes
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
as in kids
to make fun of in a good-natured way
ribbed him a bit about fumbling such an easy play
Synonyms & Similar Words
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 ribs
Victoria Gomelsky, Robb Report, 9 Nov. 2025
While the patty is shaped to resemble a rack of ribs, USA Today reports that the sandwich actually includes little rib meat.
—Haadiza Ogwude, Cincinnati Enquirer, 7 Nov. 2025
Meanwhile, Draymond Green (ribs) and Moses Moody (back) were also made available.
—Joseph Dycus, Mercury News, 7 Nov. 2025
This new stick-to-your-ribs chili is a great play on traditional pork chili.
—Patricia S York, Southern Living, 6 Nov. 2025
Billed as the world’s largest competition of its kind, the World Series of Barbecue attracts hundreds of teams from around the nation to compete for titles, trophies and cash in categories such as ribs, turkey, pork and brisket.
—Dan Kelly, Kansas City Star, 5 Nov. 2025
Tonight, Al Roker and his Weather Hunter team will be in attendance, anticipating a bevy of soulful classics, including oxtail, ribs, fries, mac and cheese and jerk chicken.
—Mackenzie Cummings-Grady, Billboard, 5 Nov. 2025
Vonn walked with a limp, which contorted her body in a way that put stress on other areas, like her hips and ribs.
—Sean Gregory, Time, 27 Oct. 2025
Hammerheads restaurant, known for ribs, smoked chicken wings, and unique sandwiches, is celebrating 15 years in Louisville.
—Ray Padilla, Louisville Courier Journal, 24 Oct. 2025
Noun
The simplicity of the marks is echoed in the Godna collection, whose designs feature articulated ribs of high-polish 18-karat yellow gold lined with pavé diamonds and holding larger diamonds.
—Victoria Gomelsky, Robb Report, 9 Nov. 2025
While the patty is shaped to resemble a rack of ribs, USA Today reports that the sandwich actually includes little rib meat.
—Haadiza Ogwude, Cincinnati Enquirer, 7 Nov. 2025
Meanwhile, Draymond Green (ribs) and Moses Moody (back) were also made available.
—Joseph Dycus, Mercury News, 7 Nov. 2025
This new stick-to-your-ribs chili is a great play on traditional pork chili.
—Patricia S York, Southern Living, 6 Nov. 2025
Billed as the world’s largest competition of its kind, the World Series of Barbecue attracts hundreds of teams from around the nation to compete for titles, trophies and cash in categories such as ribs, turkey, pork and brisket.
—Dan Kelly, Kansas City Star, 5 Nov. 2025
Tonight, Al Roker and his Weather Hunter team will be in attendance, anticipating a bevy of soulful classics, including oxtail, ribs, fries, mac and cheese and jerk chicken.
—Mackenzie Cummings-Grady, Billboard, 5 Nov. 2025
Vonn walked with a limp, which contorted her body in a way that put stress on other areas, like her hips and ribs.
—Sean Gregory, Time, 27 Oct. 2025
Hammerheads restaurant, known for ribs, smoked chicken wings, and unique sandwiches, is celebrating 15 years in Louisville.
—Ray Padilla, Louisville Courier Journal, 24 Oct. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for ribs
Noun
-
Death, of course, is never permanent in slasher movies, or parodies of slasher movies, for that matter.—
Skyler Trepel,
Entertainment Weekly,
19 Oct. 2025
-
Pop-culture figures like Frankenstein, Dracula, and the Wolfman are so ubiquitous as to be both movie characters and parodies of themselves, and this DuckTales episode is good for any kids that like monsters but aren’t quite ready to be menaced by them yet.—
Daniel Dockery,
Vulture,
17 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
Yes, as it is said, some jokes just write themselves.—
Steve Fryer,
Oc Register,
8 Jan. 2026
-
Performers have been reprimanded for making racist, sexist and homophobic jokes during shows in the late 1990s and 2000s, according to Westword, and Stock Show officials were quick to apologize.—
John Wenzel,
Denver Post,
7 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
Rates for the winter journey to the North Pole start at approximately $42 for adults (and kids ages 12 and over) and just over $31 for children ages two to 11.—
Evie Carrick,
Travel + Leisure,
7 Nov. 2025
-
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
-
For instance, think back to when everyone was doing spoofs about titles that dealt with women in trains or in windows or in peril.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
16 Oct. 2025
-
Indeed, Altman, by virtue of the sheer number of spoofs, appears to have joined the pantheon of comic figures alongside South Park’s Eric Cartman and Family Guy’s Peter Griffin.—
Deni Ellis Béchard,
Scientific American,
9 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
Not all of the jokes work, but even the grumpiest theatergoers will find plenty of laughs.—
Ross Raihala,
Twin Cities,
7 Jan. 2026
-
But the comedians also used those laughs to reveal the fundamental absurdity of violence and conflict.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
7 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
The trailer for the film, released this morning, teases an emotional Matt and Ross Duffer wrapping up the Netflix tentpole show that took 10 years to make.—
Dessi Gomez,
Deadline,
5 Jan. 2026
-
The trailer teases a sharp, self-aware story about ambition, reinvention, and the business of superhero mythmaking.—
Okla Jones,
Essence,
5 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
Mason roasts coffee beans from Ethiopia, Brazil and Colombia and supplies them to coffee shops throughout metro Detroit.—
Lyndsay C. Green,
Freep.com,
28 Sep. 2025
-
The company then freshly roasts the beans in small batches at its Grapevine cafe.—
Ella Gonzales,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
25 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Ribs.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/ribs. Accessed 10 Jan. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share