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
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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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of ribs
Sarah Martens, Better Homes & Gardens, 5 Oct. 2025
And some items, though limited, have seen prices decline, including Graeter’s Black Raspberry Chocolate Chip ice cream, Montgomery Inn’s full rack of ribs, Pringles potato chips and Red and Blue Bicycle Playing cards (though a standard deck has risen 11% in line with the overall index.
—Alexander Coolidge, Cincinnati Enquirer, 3 Oct. 2025
Regulars to any of the sites will recognize the Philippe Chow classics from char siu spare ribs to grand walnut sesame prawns.
—Mackensy Lunsford, Nashville Tennessean, 2 Oct. 2025
With a deep inhalation, your rib cage expands, and the serratus anterior supports the scapulae along the ribs during expansion.
—Dana Santas, CNN Money, 2 Oct. 2025
Also out for the 49ers on Thursday night will be wide receivers Ricky Pearsall (knee), Jauan Jennings (ankle, ribs) and Jordan Watkins (calf).
—Matt Barrows, New York Times, 1 Oct. 2025
The impact broke Boehm’s collarbone and seven of his ribs and collapsed his right lung, according to the outlets.
—Latoya Gayle, PEOPLE, 29 Sep. 2025
According to a criminal complaint obtained by KGAN, the woman had been kicked by Miller, breaking two of her ribs and puncturing a lung.
—Mike Stunson, Kansas City Star, 29 Sep. 2025
Brian sees Ellen from across the crowd, standing with Malcolm, and Murtagh can’t resist slipping a verbal dagger into his cousin’s ribs.
—Kimberly Roots, TVLine, 26 Sep. 2025
Noun
Here's a quick look at how to make this stick-to-your-ribs take on classic meat lasagna.
—Sarah Martens, Better Homes & Gardens, 5 Oct. 2025
And some items, though limited, have seen prices decline, including Graeter’s Black Raspberry Chocolate Chip ice cream, Montgomery Inn’s full rack of ribs, Pringles potato chips and Red and Blue Bicycle Playing cards (though a standard deck has risen 11% in line with the overall index.
—Alexander Coolidge, Cincinnati Enquirer, 3 Oct. 2025
Regulars to any of the sites will recognize the Philippe Chow classics from char siu spare ribs to grand walnut sesame prawns.
—Mackensy Lunsford, Nashville Tennessean, 2 Oct. 2025
With a deep inhalation, your rib cage expands, and the serratus anterior supports the scapulae along the ribs during expansion.
—Dana Santas, CNN Money, 2 Oct. 2025
Also out for the 49ers on Thursday night will be wide receivers Ricky Pearsall (knee), Jauan Jennings (ankle, ribs) and Jordan Watkins (calf).
—Matt Barrows, New York Times, 1 Oct. 2025
The impact broke Boehm’s collarbone and seven of his ribs and collapsed his right lung, according to the outlets.
—Latoya Gayle, PEOPLE, 29 Sep. 2025
According to a criminal complaint obtained by KGAN, the woman had been kicked by Miller, breaking two of her ribs and puncturing a lung.
—Mike Stunson, Kansas City Star, 29 Sep. 2025
Brian sees Ellen from across the crowd, standing with Malcolm, and Murtagh can’t resist slipping a verbal dagger into his cousin’s ribs.
—Kimberly Roots, TVLine, 26 Sep. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for ribs
Noun
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The moment — delivered by Steinfeld’s character Mary on a humid New Orleans train platform — was clipped, memed and replayed across TikTok, igniting think pieces and parodies alike.—
Clayton Davis,
Variety,
3 Oct. 2025
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Free speech covers the jokes, the satire, the parodies—even the dumb, crass, or offensive ones.—
Lizz Winstead,
Time,
27 Sep. 2025
Noun
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From jokes about his resemblance to former NBA star Delonté West to comments about the cover hurting the album’s streams, Thug’s provocative art, for the first time, landed flat.—
Jeff Ihaza,
Rolling Stone,
1 Oct. 2025
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Hill, however, appeared to be in high spirits as he was shuttled off the field, apparently cracking jokes about the state of his leg.—
Miami Herald,
Miami Herald,
30 Sep. 2025
Verb
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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
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There’s also never really a good explanation for why the population of campers has dwindled, beyond Charlie Brown telling Sally that kids her age just want to watch TV instead of heading outdoors for fun.—
Bill Goodykoontz,
AZCentral.com,
11 Aug. 2025
Noun
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Today, Neeson is doing action spoofs (thank God), and even the John Wick series has run its course.—
Bilge Ebiri,
Vulture,
13 Aug. 2025
Noun
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Here are the teams that will freak out as the rest of baseball points and laughs.—
Grant Brisbee,
New York Times,
29 Sep. 2025
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Though the subject matter of the show is serious, the women share plenty of laughs when the cameras aren’t rolling.—
Eric Andersson,
PEOPLE,
29 Sep. 2025
Verb
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Phil initially teases Peter for being weak and effeminate.—
Mathew Rodriguez,
Them.,
25 Sep. 2025
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Berger also teases the next two installments of this Demon Slayer movie trilogy and, yes, popcorn buckets.—
Nick Romano,
Entertainment Weekly,
24 Sep. 2025
Verb
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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
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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 7 Oct. 2025.
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