verb
ridicule
RIH-dihk-yool
verb
1
To mock or make fun of someone or something in a scornful way.
"The critics ridiculed his first novel as amateurish."
"She was ridiculed at school for her accent."
noun
1
Mocking words or behaviour intended to make someone look foolish.
"He faced public ridicule after the failed product launch."
How to Use Ridicule
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishMaking fun of someone or something in a mocking, belittling way.
Common mistake
Don't confuse with the adjective ridiculous, which describes the thing being mocked rather than the act of mocking.
Easily confused with
Common pairings
open to ridicule
ridicule someone's idea
object of ridicule
Word Forms
more ridicule comparative, ridiculed past tense, ridicules plural, ridicules plural, ridicules singular, most ridicule superlative
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The critics _____ his first novel as amateurish.
Etymology
From French ridicule, from Latin rīdiculus (\"laughable\"), from ridere (\"to laugh\").