ridicule
pronunciation
How to pronounce ridicule in British English:
UK [ˈrɪdɪkju:l]
How to pronounce ridicule in American English:
US [ˈrɪdɪˌkjul]
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- Noun:
- language or behavior intended to mock or humiliate
- the act of deriding or treating with contempt
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- Verb:
- subject to laughter or ridicule
Word Origin
- ridicule (v.)
- 1680s, "make ridiculous," from ridicule (n.) or else from French ridiculer, from ridicule. Meaning "make fun of" is from c. 1700. Related: Ridiculed; ridiculing.
- ridicule (n.)
- 1670s, "absurd thing;" 1680s, "words or actions meant to invoke ridicule," from French ridicule, noun use of adjective (15c.), or from Latin ridiculum "laughing matter, joke," from noun use of neuter of ridiculus (see ridiculous). "He who brings ridicule to bear against truth, finds in his hand a blade without a hilt." [Walter Savage Landor, "Imaginary Conversations"]
Antonym
Example
- 1. That makes them easy targets for public ridicule .
- 2. I suffer ridicule from economist friends when visiting a local restaurant .
- 3. The numbers were met with ridicule , skepticism , and even suspicion .
- 4. In fact , ridicule is part of life for many dual-phone users .
- 5. It is easy , far too easy , to ridicule now the illusions of yesteryear .