as in contempt
the making of unkind jokes as a way of showing one's scorn for someone or something
the early efforts by the suffragists to obtain voting rights for women were met with ridicule
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in to mock
to make (someone or something) the object of unkind laughter
the term "big bang theory" was originally coined to ridicule the belief that the universe was created by a giant explosion
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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 ridicule
Natasha Dye, PEOPLE, 10 Sep. 2025
In the midst of success, the famous parents have faced ridicule and been at the center of tabloid fodder.
—Anna Halkidis, Parents, 9 Sep. 2025
John T. Shaw, Chicago Tribune, 25 Aug. 2025
On the other side of the coin, many took to social media to ridicule the backlash.
—Marni Rose McFall, MSNBC Newsweek, 22 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for ridicule
Noun
In 2023, Williams remained confident about his nail art despite ridicule from online trolls.
—Natasha Dye, PEOPLE, 10 Sep. 2025
In the midst of success, the famous parents have faced ridicule and been at the center of tabloid fodder.
—Anna Halkidis, Parents, 9 Sep. 2025
Verb
For decades, Fowler has been haunted by an elementary school memory in which a brother and sister were ridiculed by classmates for wearing the same clothes every day because of their economic circumstances.
—John T. Shaw, Chicago Tribune, 25 Aug. 2025
On the other side of the coin, many took to social media to ridicule the backlash.
—Marni Rose McFall, MSNBC Newsweek, 22 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for ridicule
Recent Examples of Synonyms for ridicule
Noun
-
But the friendship fell apart earlier this year when Farage refused to echo Musk’s support for Robinson, the founder of the now-defunct anti-immigration English Defence League (EDL), who was previously jailed for being in contempt of court by repeating false accusations about a Syrian refugee.—
Catherine Nicholls,
CNN Money,
14 Sep. 2025
-
My dream of becoming a woman was exchanged for a different fantasy, a kind of eternal world of teen-agers, who had nothing but contempt for adults.—
Rachel Kushner,
New Yorker,
14 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
Many on the right have reacted strongly to those perceived to be celebrating or mocking Kirk's death, calling for consequences such as losing their jobs or in Omar's case, being censured.—
Alia Shoaib,
MSNBC Newsweek,
18 Sep. 2025
-
Comedy Central responded to Kirk’s killing by pulling the episode mocking him from its regular rotation.—
Dominick Mastrangelo,
The Hill,
17 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
His disdain for Christmas is no match for visits from enchanting ghosts, a lively ensemble of characters, and the music of the season.—
Kirby Adams,
Louisville Courier Journal,
15 Sep. 2025
-
In a new documentary, Murray and Tom Hanks reflect on their late friend's disdain for media attention surrounding his body.—
Joey Nolfi,
Entertainment Weekly,
10 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
Ladapo’s potent derision of vaccine mandates sparked a near-instant deluge of reaction and vigorous disagreement, including from infectious disease experts.—
Nicquel Terry Ellis,
CNN Money,
14 Sep. 2025
-
The Twitterverse was still taking shape at the time, so widespread snark and predisposition to derision was not yet pop culture’s default setting.—
Matt Webb Mitovich,
TVLine,
13 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
Humor can contribute to this vibe; laughter builds a sense of camaraderie among teammates.—
Anne Sugar,
Forbes.com,
18 Sep. 2025
-
The Dash and the Dilemma The video's comments were filled with a mix of laughter and relatable stories.—
Maria Morava,
MSNBC Newsweek,
17 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Ridicule.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/ridicule. Accessed 21 Sep. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share