Definitions for ridicule
ˈrɪd ɪˌkyulridicule

Princeton's WordNetRate this definition:5.0 / 2 votes

1. ridiculenoun

   language or behavior intended to mock or humiliate

2. derision, ridiculeverb

   the act of deriding or treating with contempt

3. ridicule, roast, guy, blackguard, laugh at, jest at, rib, make fun, poke funverb

   subject to laughter or ridicule

   "The satirists ridiculed the plans for a new opera house"; "The students poked fun at the inexperienced teacher"; "His former students roasted the professor at his 60th birthday"

WiktionaryRate this definition:3.3 / 3 votes

1. ridiculenoun

   derision; mocking or humiliating words or behaviour

2. ridiculeverb

   to criticize or disapprove of someone or something through scornful jocularity; to make fun of

   His older sibling constantly ridiculed him with sarcastic remarks.

3. ridiculeadjective

   ridiculous

   This action became so ridicule. uE000116473uE001 Aubrey.

4. Etymology: From ridiculus, from ridere.

Samuel Johnson's DictionaryRate this definition:0.0 / 0 votes

1. RIDICULEnoun

   Wit of that species that provokes laughter.

   Etymology: ridicule, Fr. ridiculum, Lat.

   Sacred to ridicule his whole life long,
   And the sad burthen of some merry song. Alexander Pope.

   Touch’d and sham’d by ridicule alone. Alexander Pope.

   Those, who aim at ridicule,
   Should fix upon some certain rule,
   Which fairly hints they are in jest. Jonathan Swift, Miscellanies.

2. To Ridiculeverb

   To expose to laughter; to treat with contemptuous merriment.

   Etymology: from the noun.

   I wish the vein of ridiculing all that is serious and good may have no worse effect upon our state, than knight errantry had on theirs. William Temple.

   He often took a pleasure to appear ignorant, that he might the better turn to ridicule those that valued themselves on their books. Joseph Addison, on Medals.

WikipediaRate this definition:0.0 / 0 votes

1. ridicule

   Mockery or mocking is the act of insulting or making light of a person or other thing, sometimes merely by taunting, but often by making a caricature, purporting to engage in imitation in a way that highlights unflattering characteristics. Mockery can be done in a lighthearted and gentle way, but can also be cruel and hateful, such that it "conjures images of corrosion, deliberate degradation, even subversion; thus, 'to laugh at in contempt, to make sport of' (OED)". Mockery appears to be unique to humans, and serves a number of psychological functions, such as reducing the perceived imbalance of power between authority figures and common people. Examples of mockery can be found in literature and the arts.

Webster DictionaryRate this definition:5.0 / 1 vote

1. Ridiculenoun

   an object of sport or laughter; a laughingstock; a laughing matter

2. Ridiculenoun

   remarks concerning a subject or a person designed to excite laughter with a degree of contempt; wit of that species which provokes contemptuous laughter; disparagement by making a person an object of laughter; banter; -- a term lighter than derision

3. Ridiculenoun

   quality of being ridiculous; ridiculousness

4. Ridiculeverb

   to laugh at mockingly or disparagingly; to awaken ridicule toward or respecting

5. Ridiculeadjective

   ridiculous

6. Etymology: [F.]

FreebaseRate this definition:5.0 / 1 vote

1. Ridicule

   Ridicule is a 1996 French film set in the 18th century at the decadent court of Versailles, where social status can rise and fall based on one's ability to mete out witty insults and avoid ridicule oneself. The story examines the social injustices of late 18th century France, in showing the corruption and callousness of the aristocrats.

Chambers 20th Century DictionaryRate this definition:5.0 / 1 vote

1. Ridicule

   rid′i-kūl, n. wit exposing one to laughter: derision: mockery.—v.t. to laugh at: to expose to merriment: to deride: to mock.—n. Rid′i cūler.—v.t. Ridic′ūlise.—n. Ridicūlos′ity.—adj. Ridic′ūlous, deserving or exciting ridicule: absurd: (obs.) outrageous.—adv. Ridic′ūlously.—n. Ridic′ūlousness. [L. ridiculus—ridēre, to laugh.]

Matched Categories

1. • Disrespect

How to pronounce ridicule?

1. Alex

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   David

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   Mark

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   Daniel

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   Libby

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   Mia

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   Karen

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   Neerja

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   Zira

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   Oliver

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   Wendy

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   Fred

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   Tessa

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How to say ridicule in sign language?

Numerology

1. Chaldean Numerology

   The numerical value of ridicule in Chaldean Numerology is: 7

2. Pythagorean Numerology

   The numerical value of ridicule in Pythagorean Numerology is: 9

Examples of ridicule in a Sentence

1. Chris Barron:

   Whenever the left wants to lampoon someone on the right President Trump always play the gay card. This is exactly what they think of gay people - that our lives and our relationships are jokes. Something deserving of ridicule and scorn, most middle school children behave better than this.

2. William Lamb, 2nd Viscount Melbourne:

   You should never assume contempt for that which it is not very manifest that you have it in your power to possess, nor does a wit ever make a more contemptible figure than when, in attempting satire, he shows that he does not understand that which he would make the subject of his ridicule.

3. Charles Simmons:

   Ridicule is the first and last argument of fools.

4. Deroy Murdock:

   [The left] completely has turned the term racism into a punchline, they have gone beyond crying wolf. They have made the boy who cried wolf look like a stable and reliable character, and they totally made a mockery of the term and trivialized it to the point of ridicule.

5. Donald Trump:

   It is not news or surprising to me that critics and the media have chosen to ridicule me for speaking out on this issue, and that's OK, i remain committed to tackling this topic because it will provide a better world for our children.

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