ridicule

8 synonyms and 4 antonyms for ridicule, grouped by meaning and by how common each one is.

Verb — To mock or make fun of someone or something in a scornful way.

Synonyms

Everyday swaps

Common words most readers know — safe in any writing.

guy

Less common

Still standard English, but they carry more weight.

roast rib mockery

Rare, literary or technical

Precise, but they will stand out — check the sense before using one.

derision scoff katagelasticism blackguard

Synonyms by Meaning

1. verb

To mock or make fun of someone or something in a scornful way.

“The critics ridiculed his first novel as amateurish.”

roast rib guy derision scoff mockery katagelasticism blackguard

2. noun

Mocking words or behaviour intended to make someone look foolish.

“He faced public ridicule after the failed product launch.”

derision

Opposites

homage adulation veneration respect

How to use ridicule

The word patterns that sound natural to a native speaker.

open to ridicule ridicule someone's idea object of ridicule

Etymology

From French ridicule, from Latin rīdiculus (\"laughable\"), from ridere (\"to laugh\").

Full origin of ridicule →

Frequently asked questions

What does “ridicule” mean?

The word “ridicule” means to mock or make fun of someone or something in a scornful way. In plain terms, making fun of someone or something in a mocking, belittling way.

How do you pronounce “ridicule”?

“Ridicule” is pronounced RIH-dihk-yool (/ˈɹɪdɪkjuːl/ in IPA).

How do you use “ridicule” in a sentence?

Here is “ridicule” used in a sentence: “The critics ridiculed his first novel as amateurish.”

What is another word for “ridicule”?

Words with a similar meaning to “ridicule” include derision, scoff, mockery and katagelasticism.

What part of speech is “ridicule”?

Depending on how it is used, “ridicule” can be a verb and a noun.

Where does the word “ridicule” come from?

The word “ridicule” comes from Latin. From French ridicule, from Latin rīdiculus (\"laughable\"), from ridere (\"to laugh\").

Is “ridicule” a common word?

“Ridicule” is an uncommon word in modern English.

How many meanings does “ridicule” have?

“Ridicule” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: to mock or make fun of someone or something in a scornful way.

People also searched

guy respect roast homage rib mockery katagelasticism adulation scoff blackguard veneration derision

Nearby words

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