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
Ella Gonzales
may 28, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 28 May 2026
But look out back, and there’s an Ole Hickory Pits commercial smoker cooking beef ribs, brisket, lamb shanks and chicken wings.
—Louisa Kung Liu Chu, Chicago Tribune, 27 May 2026
Hioki suffered from multiple fractures to his spine, ribs, and arm, and a potential traumatic brain injury.
—Taijuan Moorman, USA Today, 26 May 2026
Five French activists had also been hospitalized in Turkey, some with broken ribs or fractured vertebrae, Reuters reported.
—Miranda Jeyaretnam, Time, 25 May 2026
The day had begun with a jab in the ribs.
—Beren Cross, New York Times, 25 May 2026
Ratcliffe made the point to the Cubans last week while the president, Rubio, and several members of the administration’s senior foreign-policy team were dining on crispy beef ribs and roast duck in Beijing.
—Vivian Salama, The Atlantic, 24 May 2026
A little jolt from a taser to the ribs.
—Los Angeles Times, 22 May 2026
Kikta’s scalpel cuts into the man’s chest down to his ribs.
—Kansas City Star, 22 May 2026
Noun
And Wednesday is for meat plates of two brisket, ribs, sausage or boneless chicken plates including sides.
—Ella Gonzales
may 28, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 28 May 2026
But look out back, and there’s an Ole Hickory Pits commercial smoker cooking beef ribs, brisket, lamb shanks and chicken wings.
—Louisa Kung Liu Chu, Chicago Tribune, 27 May 2026
Hioki suffered from multiple fractures to his spine, ribs, and arm, and a potential traumatic brain injury.
—Taijuan Moorman, USA Today, 26 May 2026
Five French activists had also been hospitalized in Turkey, some with broken ribs or fractured vertebrae, Reuters reported.
—Miranda Jeyaretnam, Time, 25 May 2026
The day had begun with a jab in the ribs.
—Beren Cross, New York Times, 25 May 2026
Ratcliffe made the point to the Cubans last week while the president, Rubio, and several members of the administration’s senior foreign-policy team were dining on crispy beef ribs and roast duck in Beijing.
—Vivian Salama, The Atlantic, 24 May 2026
A little jolt from a taser to the ribs.
—Los Angeles Times, 22 May 2026
Kikta’s scalpel cuts into the man’s chest down to his ribs.
—Kansas City Star, 22 May 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for ribs
Noun
-
Its various iterations have managed to hold viewers' attention in the years since (the 2009 sibling version inspired a slew of parodies and fan fiction).—
Rachel Treisman,
NPR,
20 May 2026
-
His most viral videos include skits about dueling Drake and Kendrick Lamar tracks and parodies amplifying more serious lyrical messages in popular party music.—
Lia Russell,
Sacbee.com,
13 May 2026
Noun
-
Millions and millions of people tuned in to watch Johnny Carson poke fun at everyone, identify and support up-and-coming comics, entertain with clever and timeless skits, bring on musical guests and tell jokes.—
Ian Miller OutKick,
FOXNews.com,
1 June 2026
-
The star has been the butt of too many mean jokes, the object of veneration and a muse for film and literary retellings that have elevated her into the realm of myth.—
Daniel D'Addario,
Variety,
1 June 2026
Verb
-
Comeback kids these 2026 Boston Red Sox are not.—
Gabrielle Starr,
Boston Herald,
23 May 2026
-
Young Michael may have seemed strange, or just plain different, to kids his own age, but what about the adult Michael, whose professional life took him outside the family orbit and into offices, studios, and night clubs?—
Richard Brody,
New Yorker,
23 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
There would be more scripted and carefully choreographed moments in his TV spots for Calvin Klein jeans and Obsession, collaborations with the writer Doon Arbus (daughter of Diane and Allan Arbus) that took chances (and which, for some viewers, are inseparable from memorable spoofs on SNL).—
Sheri Linden,
HollywoodReporter,
17 May 2026
-
The success of more straightforward spoofs such as Schaffer’s The Naked Gun last year is also reassuring; that film was a classic joke-a-minute throwback that largely worked (for both viewers and critics), more in line with the sort of fare that the Lonely Island made early on.—
David Sims,
The Atlantic,
27 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
These people had huge laughs Thursday morning over their airport Bloody Marys after realizing their words were treated as if serious.—
Joe Rexrode,
New York Times,
29 May 2026
-
Sasmita laughs wrapped in the yellow like the sun sarong.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
29 May 2026
Verb
-
Season one teases the turmoil ahead, after Dean finds out that Allie has slept with his very own (heated) rival, Hunter (Charlie Evans).—
Kenneal Patterson,
Vanity Fair,
29 May 2026
-
The preview also teases the roles of the supporting cast.—
Nick Romano,
Entertainment Weekly,
22 May 2026
Verb
-
Millete Birhanemaskel, owner of Whittier Cafe, roasts the beans that Leul serves.—
Colin Wrenn,
Denver Post,
13 May 2026
-
Next, Butac arranges a bunch of the beans on two trays and roasts them for a specific amount of time before separating the shells from the beans and then running the bean fragments, also known as nibs, through a mill.—
Ari Daniel,
NPR,
10 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Ribs.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/ribs. Accessed 5 Jun. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
