mockery

noun

mock·​ery ˈmä-k(ə-)rē How to pronounce mockery (audio)
ˈmȯ-
plural mockeries
Synonyms of mockerynext
1
: insulting or contemptuous action or speech : derision
… laying himself open to the jeers and mockeries of his rebellious subjects …E. A. Freeman
2
: a subject of laughter, derision, or sport
… making him turn himself into a merry mockery of all he had once held dear.Oliver St. John Gogarty
3
a
: a counterfeit appearance : imitation
… if it was not a man it was a huge and grotesque mockery of man.Edgar Rice Burroughs
b
: an insincere, contemptible, or impertinent (see impertinent sense 1a) imitation
makes a mockery of justice
4
: something ridiculously or impudently (see impudent sense 1) unsuitable
… in her bitterness she felt that all rejoicing was mockery.George Eliot

Examples of mockery in a Sentence

His kind of personality invites mockery. the children's cruel mockery of each other
Recent Examples on the Web
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.
The 90-degree sun was making a mockery of my sunblock, as evidenced by the bright red hue of my hand (and face and neck and legs). Sean Gregory, Time, 11 June 2026 But a little mockery needn’t impede that task. Rachel Syme, New Yorker, 10 June 2026 The whiplash, which drew mockery of Mace from some Republicans, highlighted that the congresswoman isn't as tight with the president as her campaign would like voters to believe. Phillip M. Bailey, USA Today, 8 June 2026 Many of their performances are blasphemous, and their work only displays hate and mockery of Catholics and the Christian faith. Jon Root Outkick, FOXNews.com, 6 June 2026 See All Example Sentences for mockery

Word History

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of mockery was in the 15th century

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Cite this Entry

“Mockery.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/mockery. Accessed 15 Jun. 2026.

Kids Definition

mockery

noun
mock·​ery ˈmäk-(ə-)rē How to pronounce mockery (audio)
ˈmȯk-
plural mockeries
1
: insulting action or speech
2
: someone or something that is laughed at
3
: a ridiculous or poor imitation

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