ridicule 1 of 2

as in contempt
the making of unkind jokes as a way of showing one's scorn for someone or something the early efforts by the suffragists to obtain voting rights for women were met with ridicule

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

ridicule

2 of 2

verb

Synonym Chooser

How is the word ridicule distinct from other similar verbs?

Some common synonyms of ridicule are deride, mock, and taunt. While all these words mean "to make an object of laughter of," ridicule implies a deliberate often malicious belittling.

consistently ridiculed everything she said

When is deride a more appropriate choice than ridicule?

The meanings of deride and ridicule largely overlap; however, deride suggests contemptuous and often bitter ridicule.

derided their efforts to start their own business

In what contexts can mock take the place of ridicule?

The words mock and ridicule are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, mock implies scorn often ironically expressed as by mimicry or sham deference.

youngsters began to mock the helpless wino

When is it sensible to use taunt instead of ridicule?

While the synonyms taunt and ridicule are close in meaning, taunt suggests jeeringly provoking insult or challenge.

hometown fans taunted the visiting team

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 ridicule
Noun
When asked about funny memories with the cast — which included the likes of Viggo Mortensen, Elijah Wood, Liv Tyler, and Ian McKellen — Bloom said that his glamorous elf warrior, Legolas, was subject to great ridicule among his costars. Wesley Stenzel, EW.com, 1 Sep. 2025 Yet, somewhere along the line, Vulcans have become the butt of the joke with their stiff, snobbish demeanor a source of ridicule for their (supposedly) more progressive human shipmates. Richard Edwards, Space.com, 29 Aug. 2025
Verb
For decades, Fowler has been haunted by an elementary school memory in which a brother and sister were ridiculed by classmates for wearing the same clothes every day because of their economic circumstances. John T. Shaw, Chicago Tribune, 25 Aug. 2025 On the other side of the coin, many took to social media to ridicule the backlash. Marni Rose McFall, MSNBC Newsweek, 22 Aug. 2025 See All Example Sentences for ridicule
Recent Examples of Synonyms for ridicule
Noun
  • But the friendship fell apart earlier this year when Farage refused to echo Musk’s support for Robinson, the founder of the now-defunct anti-immigration English Defence League (EDL), who was previously jailed for being in contempt of court by repeating false accusations about a Syrian refugee.
    Catherine Nicholls, CNN Money, 14 Sep. 2025
  • My dream of becoming a woman was exchanged for a different fantasy, a kind of eternal world of teen-agers, who had nothing but contempt for adults.
    Rachel Kushner, New Yorker, 14 Sep. 2025
Verb
  • While the performative male has been mocked online for appearing inauthentic, Rosen and Park see it as a net positive that men are making an effort to develop genuine taste and veer away from leather recliners with cup holders and T-shirts as pillowcases.
    Viv Chen, Architectural Digest, 9 Sep. 2025
  • His friend Daniel Georges, humorously and wisely played by arthouse favorite Isaach De Bankolé, is a priest who tries to get him on the right track, even sending him articles from the Catholic Worker, only for Robbie to mock him by knocking on the table and asking if God’s inside the linoleum.
    Grace Byron, Vulture, 8 Sep. 2025
Noun
  • His disdain for Christmas is no match for visits from enchanting ghosts, a lively ensemble of characters, and the music of the season.
    Kirby Adams, Louisville Courier Journal, 15 Sep. 2025
  • In a new documentary, Murray and Tom Hanks reflect on their late friend's disdain for media attention surrounding his body.
    Joey Nolfi, Entertainment Weekly, 10 Sep. 2025
Noun
  • Ladapo’s potent derision of vaccine mandates sparked a near-instant deluge of reaction and vigorous disagreement, including from infectious disease experts.
    Nicquel Terry Ellis, CNN Money, 14 Sep. 2025
  • The Twitterverse was still taking shape at the time, so widespread snark and predisposition to derision was not yet pop culture’s default setting.
    Matt Webb Mitovich, TVLine, 13 Sep. 2025
Noun
  • Williams said, touching off laughter.
    Tom Murphy, Arkansas Online, 12 Sep. 2025
  • Her laughter and her soft voice way more brilliant.
    Manuel Muñoz, Literary Hub, 11 Sep. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Ridicule.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/ridicule. Accessed 17 Sep. 2025.

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