Definify.com

Webster 1913 Edition

Ridicule

Rid′i-cule

,
Noun.
[F.
ridicule
, L.
ridiculum
a jest, fr.
ridiculus
. See
Ridiculous
.]
1.
An object of sport or laughter; a laughingstock; a laughing matter.
[Marlborough] was so miserably ignorant, that his deficiencies made him the
ridicule
of his contemporaries.
Buckle.
To the people . . . but a trifle, to the king but a
ridicule
.
Foxe.
2.
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.
We have in great measure restricted the meaning of
ridicule
, which would properly extend over whole region of the ridiculous, – the laughable, – and we have narrowed it so that in common usage it mostly corresponds to “derision”, which does indeed involve personal and offensive feelings.
Hare.
Safe from the bar, the pulpit, and the throne,
Yet touched and shamed by
ridicule
alone.
Pope.
3.
Quality of being ridiculous; ridiculousness.
[Obs.]
To see the
ridicule
of this practice.
Addison.
Syn. – Derision; banter; raillery; burlesque; mockery; irony; satire; sarcasm; gibe; jeer; sneer; ribbing.
–
Ridicule
,
Derision
,
mockery
,
ribbing
: All four words imply disapprobation; but ridicule and mockery may signify either good-natured opposition without manifest malice, or more maliciously, an attempt to humiliate. Derision is commonly bitter and scornful, and sometimes malignant.
ribbing
is almost always good-natured and fun-loving.

Rid′i-cule

,
Verb.
T.
[
imp. & p. p.
Ridiculed
;
p. pr. & vb. n.
Ridiculing
.]
To laugh at mockingly or disparagingly; to awaken ridicule toward or respecting.
I ’ve known the young, who
ridiculed
his rage.
Goldsmith.
Syn. – To deride; banter; rally; burlesque; mock; satirize; lampoon. See
Deride
.

Rid′i-cule

,
Adj.
[F.]
Ridiculous.
[Obs.]
This action . . . became so
ridicule
.
Aubrey.

Webster 1828 Edition

Ridicule

RID'ICULE

,
Noun.
[L. ridiculum, from rideo, to laugh or laugh at.]
1.
Contemptuous laughter; laughter with some degree of contempt; derision. It expresses less than scorn. Ridicule is aimed at what is not only laughable, but improper, absurd or despicable. Sacred subjects should never be treated with ridicule. [See Ludicrous.]
Ridicule is too rough an entertainment for the polished and refined. It is banished from France, and is losing ground in England.
2.
That species of writing which excites contempt with laughter. It differs from burlesque, which may excite laughter without contempt, or it may provoke derision.
Ridicule and derision are not exactly the same, as derision is applied to persons only, and ridicule to persons or things. We deride the man, but ridicule the man or his performances.

RID'ICULE

, v.t.
1.
To laugh at with expressions of contempt; to deride.
2.
To treat with contemptuous merriment; to expose to contempt or derision by writing.

RID'ICULE

,
Adj.
Ridiculous. [Not in use.]

Definition 2024

ridicule

ridicule

English

Verb

ridicule ‎(third-person singular simple present ridicules, present participle ridiculing, simple past and past participle ridiculed)

  1. (transitive) to criticize or disapprove of someone or something through scornful jocularity; to make fun of
    His older sibling constantly ridiculed him with sarcastic remarks.

Synonyms

Translations

Noun

ridicule ‎(countable and uncountable, plural ridicules)

  1. derision; mocking or humiliating words or behaviour
    • Alexander Pope
      Safe from the bar, the pulpit, and the throne, / Yet touched and shamed by ridicule alone.
  2. An object of sport or laughter; a laughing stock.
    • Buckle
      [Marlborough] was so miserably ignorant, that his deficiencies made him the ridicule of his contemporaries.
    • Foxe
      To the people […] but a trifle, to the king but a ridicule.
  3. The quality of being ridiculous; ridiculousness.
    • Addison
      to see the ridicule of this practice

Synonyms

  • See also Wikisaurus:ridicule

Related terms

Translations

See also

Adjective

ridicule ‎(comparative more ridicule, superlative most ridicule)

  1. (obsolete) ridiculous
    This action […] became so ridicule. — Aubrey.

French

Etymology

Borrowing from Latin ridiculus.

Pronunciation

Adjective

ridicule m, f ‎(plural ridicules)

  1. ridiculous (all meanings)

Latin

Etymology

From rīdiculus ‎(“laughable; ridiculous”), from rīdeō ‎(“to laugh; mock”).

Adverb

rīdiculē ‎(comparable rīdiculius, superlative rīdiculissimē)

  1. laughably, amusingly
  2. absurdly, ridiculously

Synonyms

References

Etymology

Borrowing from French ridicule, from Latin ridiculus ‎(“laughable, comical, amusing, absurd, ridiculous”), from ridere ‎(“to laugh”).

Pronunciation

Similar Results