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.
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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
Jean E. Palmieri, Footwear News, 1 Oct. 2025
Still, the good-natured ribbing never let up.
—Milena Malaver, Miami Herald, 20 Sep. 2025
Perrie Samotin, Glamour, 14 Jan. 2026
This snuggly knit is thick and cozy, complete with a rollneck design and beautiful ribbing around the sleeves, hem, and neck.
—Merrell Readman, Travel + Leisure, 6 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
The length has been shortened to create a boxy silhouette and the ribbing at the hem was adjusted for a stronger tension.
—Jean E. Palmieri, Footwear News, 1 Oct. 2025
Still, the good-natured ribbing never let up.
—Milena Malaver, Miami Herald, 20 Sep. 2025
Verb
In addition to gentle ribbing, the coat also captivated commenters.
—Perrie Samotin, Glamour, 14 Jan. 2026
This snuggly knit is thick and cozy, complete with a rollneck design and beautiful ribbing around the sleeves, hem, and neck.
—Merrell Readman, Travel + Leisure, 6 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for ribbing
Recent Examples of Synonyms for ribbing
Noun
-
In his verse, Bad Bunny directly addresses the chats, calling attention to Rosselló’s mocking of the dead from Hurricane María and his rampant homophobia.—
Julyssa Lopez,
Rolling Stone,
26 Jan. 2026
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With a mocking appreciation for her overbearing family and caustic wit for her younger self, Yajia warmly works from the thesis that kids are extraordinarily weird, scary, and kind-of-dumb creatures who really don’t know any better.—
Brian Boone,
Vulture,
12 Dec. 2025
Verb
-
Alongside the tape, the UK artist has also begun teasing a new album, Terrified.—
Hattie Lindert,
Pitchfork,
25 Jan. 2026
-
Hana can’t shake the feeling that someone is watching her, even teasing her.—
Kate Erbland,
IndieWire,
23 Jan. 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
-
Literally toxic lesbians — kidding.—
Fran Hoepfner,
Vulture,
1 Dec. 2025
-
Just kidding - but honestly not sold on him being the best player on a championship caliber team.—
The Athletic NBA Staff,
New York Times,
30 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
Kevin Stefanski walked into his introductory news conference Tuesday smiling, joking about the weather, and sounding exactly like a coach ready to get to work.—
Christopher Harris,
CBS News,
27 Jan. 2026
-
The ‘Top Gun’ and meme effect Across social networks, users have latched onto the cinematic quality of Macron’s look, repeatedly referencing Top Gun and joking that the French leader appeared ready to step into a cockpit rather than a conference hall.—
Nick Lichtenberg,
Fortune,
22 Jan. 2026
Adjective
-
Tom Lester played Eb Dawson, the Douglases' sarcastic young farmhand.—
Meredith Wilshere,
PEOPLE,
25 Jan. 2026
-
The worse things are going, the more bitter and sarcastic my humor sometimes gets.—
Kenna Hughes-Castleberry,
Space.com,
24 Jan. 2026
Noun
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The Scottish chef adds cold crème fraîche, a high-fat dairy product, to stop the cooking process while adding richness and a smooth texture without curdling.—
Deirdre Bardolf,
FOXNews.com,
1 Feb. 2026
-
Some recipes tell you to drain it off immediately, while other cooks swear by leaving it in for extra flavor and richness.—
Katie Rosenhouse,
Southern Living,
1 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
Beyond spectacles, Chinese New Year is incomplete without subtle wordplay.—
Denni Hu,
Footwear News,
23 Jan. 2026
-
But Cash’s most original and engaging writing is slightly out of step with reality and bleakly funny, devoted to wordplay and willing to be foolish about it.—
Hannah Gold,
New Yorker,
21 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Ribbing.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/ribbing. Accessed 2 Feb. 2026.
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