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
Miami Herald, 28 Mar. 2026
His partner, suffering from severe head lacerations and five broken ribs and unable to get the two-way radio working, stumbled two miles to the nearest dwelling and was then driven to the nearest phone.
—Dave Duffey, Outdoor Life, 26 Mar. 2026
Smoked meats include pulled pork, ribs, brisket and chicken.
—Fielding Buck, Oc Register, 26 Mar. 2026
Once their tray was stuffed with Terry Black’s brisket, pork ribs, dino ribs, sausage and turkey, Heder and Ramirez both carried the tray off the table, grunting.
—Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 25 Mar. 2026
Friocenter Pescados spokesman Danillo Souza Alves was quick to point out that tambaqui sports a far higher meat-to-bone ratio on its ribs than pork.
—J.m. Hirsch, Los Angeles Times, 25 Mar. 2026
Blows to his shoulder, ankle, fingers, ribs.
—Daniel Flick - The Atlanta Journal-Constitution, AJC.com, 25 Mar. 2026
If the flesh is warm for your palate, use only half of the ribs and seeds (which are even spicier), or omit them entirely.
—Rebecca Firkser, Bon Appetit Magazine, 23 Mar. 2026
Suddenly permitted to sell both liquor and food, Roush reopened the space as a full restaurant — Jesse’s Embers — offering steaks, seafood and baby‑back ribs cooked over an open flame.
—Susan Stapleton, Des Moines Register, 20 Mar. 2026
Noun
Jamaica born About a hundred people gathered to lay Wilson to rest, singing, crying and laughing while remembering his kind heart, his hard work and his famous barbecue ribs and chicken wings.
—Miami Herald, 28 Mar. 2026
His partner, suffering from severe head lacerations and five broken ribs and unable to get the two-way radio working, stumbled two miles to the nearest dwelling and was then driven to the nearest phone.
—Dave Duffey, Outdoor Life, 26 Mar. 2026
Smoked meats include pulled pork, ribs, brisket and chicken.
—Fielding Buck, Oc Register, 26 Mar. 2026
Once their tray was stuffed with Terry Black’s brisket, pork ribs, dino ribs, sausage and turkey, Heder and Ramirez both carried the tray off the table, grunting.
—Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 25 Mar. 2026
Friocenter Pescados spokesman Danillo Souza Alves was quick to point out that tambaqui sports a far higher meat-to-bone ratio on its ribs than pork.
—J.m. Hirsch, Los Angeles Times, 25 Mar. 2026
Blows to his shoulder, ankle, fingers, ribs.
—Daniel Flick - The Atlanta Journal-Constitution, AJC.com, 25 Mar. 2026
If the flesh is warm for your palate, use only half of the ribs and seeds (which are even spicier), or omit them entirely.
—Rebecca Firkser, Bon Appetit Magazine, 23 Mar. 2026
Suddenly permitted to sell both liquor and food, Roush reopened the space as a full restaurant — Jesse’s Embers — offering steaks, seafood and baby‑back ribs cooked over an open flame.
—Susan Stapleton, Des Moines Register, 20 Mar. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for ribs
Noun
-
How did Jane Lynch wind up in the YouTube ad parodies?—
Michael Schneider,
Variety,
16 Mar. 2026
-
Countless memes and parodies have circulated online.—
Melina Khan,
USA Today,
9 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
The text messages contained jokes about gas chambers, slavery, and rape.—
Peter Wehner,
The Atlantic,
23 Mar. 2026
-
The arm measurement spawned numerous online jokes, comparing Bain’s arms to those of a Tyrannosaurus Rex, a dinosaur with short arms.—
Adam Lichtenstein,
Sun Sentinel,
23 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Ziegler most recently served as senior vice president and general merchandise manager at Saks Global overseeing multiple women’s and kids categories for Saks Fifth Avenue and Neiman Marcus.—
David Moin,
Footwear News,
20 Feb. 2026
-
The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends kids ages 1-3 get 500 milligrams of calcium and 400 international units of vitamin D per day, ages 4-8 get 800 mg of calcium and 600 IU of vitamin D per day, and kids ages 9-17 get 1,300 mg of calcium and 600 IU vitamin D per day.—
BestReviews,
Chicago Tribune,
9 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
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
-
Way better than dusty game show and dinner party spoofs.—
Andy Hoglund,
Entertainment Weekly,
18 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
The guys hit a Foxwoods, get some laughs, and skip back home.—
Vinson Cunningham,
New Yorker,
29 Mar. 2026
-
Styled like a hyper-sexualized Powerpuff Girl, Cherry is responsible for many of the film’s biggest laughs — and some of its strangest tonal misfires.—
Alison Foreman,
IndieWire,
25 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
The trailer then shows Hagrid explaining the Wizarding World to Harry and teases some information about his deceased parents.—
Jordan Moreau,
Variety,
25 Mar. 2026
-
The trailer teases a few of those moments, including one with Cyrus and her mom Tish Cyrus-Purcell sitting in Hannah Montana's iconic closet.—
Angeline Jane Bernabe,
ABC News,
17 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
The dish gets all of its flavor from a rice mixture containing onions, peppers, tomatoes, and bacon that roasts in the pan alongside the chicken.—
Melinda Salchert,
Southern Living,
19 Feb. 2026
-
Tiny’s Milk & Cookies roasts all of its own coffee with beans sourced from around the world, including Ethiopia, Costa Rica and Brazil.—
Lily O'Neill,
San Antonio Express-News,
7 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Ribs.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/ribs. Accessed 31 Mar. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
