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 teasing
to make fun of in a good-natured way
ribbed him a bit about fumbling such an easy play
Synonyms & Similar Words
as in mocking
Related Words
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
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Recent Examples of ribbing
Anna Chan, Billboard, 26 June 2025
And our ribbing had not in the least shaken his confidence.
—Robeson Bailey, Outdoor Life, 11 June 2025
Bria McNeal, Travel + Leisure, 28 Aug. 2025
Other fast-casual chains have joined in on the ribbing, including Steak n’ Shake, which embodies its own 1950s aesthetic.
—Aris Folley, The Hill, 21 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for ribbing
Adjective
While the fan messages did make the guys laugh, a lot of it was thanks to their ribbing of each other and themselves.
—Anna Chan, Billboard, 26 June 2025
And our ribbing had not in the least shaken his confidence.
—Robeson Bailey, Outdoor Life, 11 June 2025
Noun
Inversion Rib Legging These Vuori leggings feature stylish ribbing to elevate the look, making them as fitting for a morning yoga sesh as a red-eye flight.
—Bria McNeal, Travel + Leisure, 28 Aug. 2025
Other fast-casual chains have joined in on the ribbing, including Steak n’ Shake, which embodies its own 1950s aesthetic.
—Aris Folley, The Hill, 21 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for ribbing
Recent Examples of Synonyms for ribbing
Verb
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Prior to the announcement, Quinn has been teasing Briney’s narration on social media.—
Lexy Perez,
HollywoodReporter,
18 Sep. 2025
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In December, Sony Pictures released a YouTube video featuring Rudd and Black teasing the movie, which is slated for release on Christmas Day.—
Sharareh Drury,
PEOPLE,
17 Sep. 2025
Noun
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Still, the DoE’s X post drew millions of views and many mocking replies, including a community note reminding readers that batteries exist to store power when the sun isn’t shining or the wind isn’t blowing.—
Eva Roytburg,
Fortune,
8 Sep. 2025
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More Photo by Ian Maule/Getty Images After Atlanta's preseason win to the Dallas Cowboys, an opposing Cowboys fan echoed the mocking mispronunciation of Penix's name that caught the quarterback's attention.—
Cecil Merkerson,
MSNBC Newsweek,
24 Aug. 2025
Verb
-
Pat Kelsey wasn't kidding about wanting the smoke.—
Leo Bertucci,
The Courier-Journal,
2 Sep. 2025
-
In 2019, Lebanese depositors discovered that their banking system had, in effect, just been kidding about those savings accounts.—
Graeme Wood,
The Atlantic,
2 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
Robinson wasn’t joking, the charging document alleges.—
Corky Siemaszko,
NBC news,
17 Sep. 2025
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In short, the women had a great time playing the games, joking around with each other and enjoying the mild weather at the indoor/outdoor bar.—
Brad Schmitt,
Nashville Tennessean,
16 Sep. 2025
Adjective
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His witty, sarcastic, and often controversial commentary is the soundtrack to a generation of wrestling fans.—
Andrew Ravens,
MSNBC Newsweek,
11 Sep. 2025
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She’s matched wonderfully by Cooke, who leans into her actual Manchester accent to give Cherry a stroppy, sarcastic bent and whose body looks absolutely banging wrapped in an array of oxblood, maroon, and cerise minidresses.—
Roxana Hadadi,
Vulture,
10 Sep. 2025
Noun
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White rum lays down a clean, spirited base, while the richness of maple syrup lends a silky depth that softens the citrus bite of fresh lemon juice.—
Aly Walansky,
Forbes.com,
13 Sep. 2025
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Tender mushrooms and beef add richness, while dry red wine, Worcestershire sauce, and Dijon mustard add depth.—
Melinda Salchert,
Southern Living,
12 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
This isn't just semantic wordplay.—
Bernard Marr,
Forbes.com,
19 Sep. 2025
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Perhaps more than ever, Hayes is the circus master of his untamable mind, a seemingly endless source of ear-worm melodies and ingenious wordplay.—
Nancy Kruh,
PEOPLE,
16 Sep. 2025
Noun
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Though brief, the video struck a chord with viewers who found humor in the dramatic before-and-after.—
Melissa Fleur Afshar,
MSNBC Newsweek,
19 Sep. 2025
-
Iger saw no humor consistent with Disney’s brand in that episode.—
Dave Smith,
Fortune,
19 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Ribbing.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/ribbing. Accessed 21 Sep. 2025.
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