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
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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
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of ribs
Victoria Edel, PEOPLE, 6 May 2026
The restaurant is smoking up plenty of brisket and enormous beef ribs — along with chicken and pork — to go with mac and cheese, baked beans, collard greens, potato salad and other Southern sides.
—Heidi Finley, Charlotte Observer, 4 May 2026
Expect wagyu brisket, lemon-zested ribs and rubs with hints of curry or tandoori.
—Bud Kennedy, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 1 May 2026
For true Wisconsin hospitality, their Friday Fish Fry and slow-cooked ribs on Thursday put on a show.
—Sarah Miller, Midwest Living, 29 Apr. 2026
Sousa-Martins was struck twice, in his thigh and his ribs, according to court documents.
—Lily Carey, Baltimore Sun, 27 Apr. 2026
Rushed to a hospital, he was treated for another concussion and bruised ribs.
—George Varga, San Diego Union-Tribune, 26 Apr. 2026
With the Dodgers leading 3-0 in the top of the sixth on Thursday, Webb fired a four-seam fastball into Rushing’s ribs.
—Justice Delos Santos, Mercury News, 24 Apr. 2026
Noun
Nicole Kidman broke multiple ribs and hurt her ankle while making 2001's Moulin Rouge!
—Victoria Edel, PEOPLE, 6 May 2026
The restaurant is smoking up plenty of brisket and enormous beef ribs — along with chicken and pork — to go with mac and cheese, baked beans, collard greens, potato salad and other Southern sides.
—Heidi Finley, Charlotte Observer, 4 May 2026
Expect wagyu brisket, lemon-zested ribs and rubs with hints of curry or tandoori.
—Bud Kennedy, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 1 May 2026
For true Wisconsin hospitality, their Friday Fish Fry and slow-cooked ribs on Thursday put on a show.
—Sarah Miller, Midwest Living, 29 Apr. 2026
Sousa-Martins was struck twice, in his thigh and his ribs, according to court documents.
—Lily Carey, Baltimore Sun, 27 Apr. 2026
Rushed to a hospital, he was treated for another concussion and bruised ribs.
—George Varga, San Diego Union-Tribune, 26 Apr. 2026
With the Dodgers leading 3-0 in the top of the sixth on Thursday, Webb fired a four-seam fastball into Rushing’s ribs.
—Justice Delos Santos, Mercury News, 24 Apr. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for ribs
Noun
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Broadway, top-heavy with musical parodies and attention-grabbing revivals, is having a strange season by all accounts.—
Theater Critic,
Los Angeles Times,
29 Apr. 2026
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While the show featured many of the same characters, its format strayed from the sci-fi space narrative of Spaceballs and instead was a series of parodies, each episode serving as a satirical commentary on several contemporary hits, such as Lord of the Rings, American Idol and Harry Potter.—
Maddie Garfinkle,
PEOPLE,
16 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
Tom Brady, who was the victim of Netflix’s last celebrity roast in 2024, made a surprise appearance at Kevin Hart’s roast Sunday to launch a few jokes at the comedian before the night got underway.—
Payton Turkeltaub,
Variety,
11 May 2026
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Insults were par for the course at The Roast of Kevin Hart, but some jokes had more acid than others.—
Jason P. Frank,
Vulture,
11 May 2026
Verb
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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
-
Both kids cheer and bite into their burgers.—
Fortesa Latifi,
Rolling Stone,
5 Apr. 2026
Noun
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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
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Retro Rewind players run a Blockbuster Video-like movie-rental store set in the early 1990s, complete with spoofs of real blockbusters of the era.—
Tony Maglio,
HollywoodReporter,
19 Mar. 2026
Noun
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There are moments when Lily feels lost and anxious, and another scene where a panicked sheep knocks over furniture, although that is played for laughs.—
Patrick Ryan,
USA Today,
8 May 2026
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Even Gawker’s star investigative reporter Adrian Chen, whose exposé of the dark web marketplace Silk Road was a huge scoop, could generate laughs.—
Frank DiGiacomo,
HollywoodReporter,
8 May 2026
Verb
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The sneak peek teases friendly competition between the couple and fellow captain Maneet Chauhan, whose team won season 6 of the barbecue showdown.—
Erin Clements,
PEOPLE,
4 May 2026
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Based on the bestseller from author Colleen Hoover, Johnson stars in the film adaptation that teases lingering secrets and a dark sinister mystery awaiting to be solved.—
Lexy Perez,
HollywoodReporter,
27 Apr. 2026
Verb
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In the night canteen, there is a man who roasts the very best corn.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
4 May 2026
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In past years, the association president has been followed by the commander-in-chief, and then a headliner, usually a comedian who roasts everyone in the room.—
Brian Stelter,
CNN Money,
24 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Ribs.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/ribs. Accessed 15 May. 2026.
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