as in joking
marked by or expressive of mild or good-natured teasing
the lightly ribbing tone tipped me off that this wasn't a serious reprimand
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
as in mocking
Related Words
as in teasing
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 ribbing
Malia Griggs, Glamour, 26 Nov. 2025
This crewneck cardigan is one of the most timeless and versatile pieces on this list, with subtle ribbing and flared sleeves that add a bit of volume to the otherwise figure-skimming sweater.
—Sophie Dodd, Travel + Leisure, 11 Nov. 2025
Ben Watanabe, MSNBC Newsweek, 7 Nov. 2025
Esiason's ribbing comes after a recent lighthearted back-and-forth between Waldman and Dave Sims, the play-by-play voice of the Bronx Bombers.
—Chantz Martin, FOXNews.com, 9 Oct. 2025
Melony Forcier, PEOPLE, 20 Jan. 2026
Even Maye has gotten in on the fun, according to Pats quarterbacks coach Ashton Grant, who says he’s been ribbing Josh in meetings.
—Andrew Callahan, Boston Herald, 16 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for ribbing
Adjective
This strapless bra delivers a surprising amount of support and structure, with a longline silhouette, hook-and-eye closure, and subtle ribbing that give it a slightly corset-like feel.
—Malia Griggs, Glamour, 26 Nov. 2025
This crewneck cardigan is one of the most timeless and versatile pieces on this list, with subtle ribbing and flared sleeves that add a bit of volume to the otherwise figure-skimming sweater.
—Sophie Dodd, Travel + Leisure, 11 Nov. 2025
Noun
His coaches, Roy Hallenbeck and Ken Williams, subjected him to the same ribbing as every other player, even teasing him about his preference for wearing the same size too-small jersey for all four years, so that by senior year his biceps stretched the sleeves to their limit.
—Ben Watanabe, MSNBC Newsweek, 7 Nov. 2025
Esiason's ribbing comes after a recent lighthearted back-and-forth between Waldman and Dave Sims, the play-by-play voice of the Bronx Bombers.
—Chantz Martin, FOXNews.com, 9 Oct. 2025
Verb
The pullover features outer seam detailing along the arms for a playful touch and ribbing on the neckline and wrist cuffs that adds dimension.
—Melony Forcier, PEOPLE, 20 Jan. 2026
Even Maye has gotten in on the fun, according to Pats quarterbacks coach Ashton Grant, who says he’s been ribbing Josh in meetings.
—Andrew Callahan, Boston Herald, 16 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for ribbing
Recent Examples of Synonyms for ribbing
Noun
-
The decision received some mocking on social media.—
Ryan Gaydos,
FOXNews.com,
8 Mar. 2026
-
Strip Law is a show that prefers to keep everything very close to the surface, including its case-of-the-week mocking of how surface-level Las Vegas is — even if roughly half those cases don’t have much to do with Vegas at all.—
Daniel Fienberg,
HollywoodReporter,
20 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
Netflix’s live-action One Piece is deep into production on Season 3, with the beloved Arabasta arc taking center stage, a wave of new casting locked in, and stars teasing a darker, more mature tone ahead.—
Hanna Wickes,
Miami Herald,
16 Mar. 2026
-
Rivian has been teasing the R2 for a while now, dangling the promise of a smaller, cheaper, more attainable version of its beloved R1S in front of adventure-hungry buyers who couldn’t quite stretch to the $77,000-plus sticker of its halo SUV.—
Kevin Sintumuang,
Outside,
13 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
His razzing of The Problem With Jon Stewart was the best grace note on the piece.—
Bethy Squires,
Vulture,
12 Dec. 2025
Verb
-
But Foley wasn’t really kidding.—
Tom Mulherin,
Boston Herald,
15 Mar. 2026
-
Download a map and a donut passport or contact the donut concierge—I’m not kidding—who can customize your itinerary.—
Allison Tibaldi,
USA Today,
10 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Green posted a TikTok video of himself receiving medical attention after the show, joking throughout the exchange.—
Ryan Brennan,
Kansas City Star,
16 Mar. 2026
-
The minor and Burke were seen joking around in a January 2024 livestream, CNN reported Thursday, following a lengthy review of related posts, interviews and court documents.—
Jami Ganz,
New York Daily News,
14 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
In her response, Stanton was livid and sarcastic.—
Moira Donegan,
New Yorker,
13 Mar. 2026
-
Adebayo said with a sarcastic smile.—
Ira Winderman,
Sun Sentinel,
12 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
Serve with crusty bread, garlic toast, or a simple green salad with a tangy vinaigrette to balance the soup’s richness.—
Kimberly Holland,
Southern Living,
15 Mar. 2026
-
Due to this chemical richness, the team decided to examine the nebula in greater detail using the Mid-Infrared Instrument on JWST.—
Rupendra Brahambhatt,
Interesting Engineering,
15 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
Their easy-going harmonies, congenial wordplay and inventive hooks earned plenty of industry recognition.—
Tom Roland,
Billboard,
13 Mar. 2026
-
Artists who speak out against this use also typically wind up spawning a gleeful response from the admin, usually filled with lots of half-baked wordplay.—
Jon Blistein,
Rolling Stone,
27 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Ribbing.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/ribbing. Accessed 20 Mar. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
