Library / English Dictionary

RIDICULE

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

 I. (noun) 

Sense 1

Meaning:

The act of deriding or treating with contempt

Synonyms:

derision; ridicule

Classified under:

Nouns denoting acts or actions

Hypernyms ("ridicule" is a kind of...):

discourtesy; offence; offense; offensive activity (a lack of politeness; a failure to show regard for others; wounding the feelings or others)

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "ridicule"):

mock (the act of mocking or ridiculing)

Derivation:

ridicule (subject to laughter or ridicule)

ridiculous (inspiring scornful pity)

Sense 2

Meaning:

Language or behavior intended to mock or humiliate

Classified under:

Nouns denoting communicative processes and contents

Hypernyms ("ridicule" is a kind of...):

discourtesy; disrespect (an expression of lack of respect)

Derivation:

ridicule (subject to laughter or ridicule)

ridiculous (broadly or extravagantly humorous; resembling farce)

 II. (verb) 

Sense 1

Meaning:

Subject to laughter or ridicule

Example:

His former students roasted the professor at his 60th birthday

Synonyms:

blackguard; guy; jest at; laugh at; make fun; poke fun; rib; ridicule; roast

Classified under:

Verbs of telling, asking, ordering, singing

Hypernyms (to "ridicule" is one way to...):

bemock; mock (treat with contempt)

Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "ridicule"):

tease (mock or make fun of playfully)

lampoon; satirise; satirize (ridicule with satire)

debunk; expose (expose while ridiculing; especially of pretentious or false claims and ideas)

stultify (cause to appear foolish)

Sentence frames:

Somebody ----s something
Somebody ----s somebody

Derivation:

ridicule (the act of deriding or treating with contempt)

ridicule (language or behavior intended to mock or humiliate)

ridiculer (a humorist who uses ridicule and irony and sarcasm)

Credits

 Context examples: 

You have done all this! and yet you can treat the mention of his misfortune with contempt and ridicule.

(Pride and Prejudice, by Jane Austen)

It was in vain to discover my resentments, which were always turned into ridicule; and I was forced to rest with patience, while my noble and beloved country was so injuriously treated.

(Gulliver's Travels into several remote nations of the world, by Jonathan Swift)

No hint of this had reached the culprits, however, and Amy's dismay can be imagined, when, the very evening before the fair, as she was putting the last touches to her pretty table, Mrs. Chester, who, of course, resented the supposed ridicule of her daughter, said, in a bland tone, but with a cold look...

(Little Women, by Louisa May Alcott)

Mrs. Dashwood, who could not think a man five years younger than herself, so exceedingly ancient as he appeared to the youthful fancy of her daughter, ventured to clear Mrs. Jennings from the probability of wishing to throw ridicule on his age.

(Sense and Sensibility, by Jane Austen)

She either sat in gloomy silence, wrapt in such gravity as nothing could subdue, no curiosity touch, no wit amuse; or allowing the attentions of Mr. Yates, was talking with forced gaiety to him alone, and ridiculing the acting of the others.

(Mansfield Park, by Jane Austen)

There was a very general ignorance of all naval matters throughout the party; and he was very much questioned, and especially by the two Miss Musgroves, who seemed hardly to have any eyes but for him, as to the manner of living on board, daily regulations, food, hours, &c., and their surprise at his accounts, at learning the degree of accommodation and arrangement which was practicable, drew from him some pleasant ridicule, which reminded Anne of the early days when she too had been ignorant, and she too had been accused of supposing sailors to be living on board without anything to eat, or any cook to dress it if there were, or any servant to wait, or any knife and fork to use.

(Persuasion, by Jane Austen)

But it has been the study of my life to avoid those weaknesses which often expose a strong understanding to ridicule.

(Pride and Prejudice, by Jane Austen)

His excellency observed my countenance to clear up; he told me, with a sigh, that there his estate began, and would continue the same, till we should come to his house: that his countrymen ridiculed and despised him, for managing his affairs no better, and for setting so ill an example to the kingdom; which, however, was followed by very few, such as were old, and wilful, and weak like himself.

(Gulliver's Travels into several remote nations of the world, by Jonathan Swift)

He wheedled, bribed, ridiculed, threatened, and scolded; affected indifference, that he might surprise the truth from her; declared he knew, then that he didn't care; and at last, by dint of perseverance, he satisfied himself that it concerned Meg and Mr. Brooke.

(Little Women, by Louisa May Alcott)

Their attention and wit were drawn off to his more fortunate rival; and the raillery which the other had incurred before any partiality arose, was removed when his feelings began really to call for the ridicule so justly annexed to sensibility.

(Sense and Sensibility, by Jane Austen)