Word
ridicule
US/ˈɹɪdəkˌjuɫ/
UK/ɹˈɪdɪkjˌuːl/
Uncountable noun
Definition
n. unkind comments or laughter that make someone or something look stupid. You use this when people are making fun of someone in a mean way.
n. the act of subjecting someone or something to mockery or derision. Often used to describe social pressure or the public dismissal of an idea.
Examples
“He faced constant ridicule from his classmates for his unusual hobby.”
“The scientist's early theories were met with ridicule by the academic community before they were eventually proven correct.”
“The politician's proposal was dismissed with such sharp ridicule that few of his colleagues dared to support it during the subsequent debate.”
Examples
simple
“He faced constant ridicule from his classmates for his unusual hobby.”
contextual
“The scientist's early theories were met with ridicule by the academic community before they were eventually proven correct.”
complex
“The politician's proposal was dismissed with such sharp ridicule that few of his colleagues dared to support it during the subsequent debate.”
Usage
Often follows verbs like 'face', 'endure', or 'suffer'; frequently paired with the preposition 'from'.
Real-World Examples
“Chadwick Boseman faced significant ridicule and speculation around his weight loss leading up to his death from colon cancer.” “Many of those names have been ridiculed for their overreliance on throwaway clichés.” Etymology
The obsolete adjective is borrowed from French ridicule, from Latin rīdiculus (“laughable, comical, amusing, absurd, ridiculous”), from ridere (“to laugh”). The noun is either from French, noun use of adjective, or from Latin rīdiculum, noun use of neuter of rīdiculus. The verb is from the noun or else from French ridiculer, from ridicule.
Apparently from French ridicule (“reticule”), probably a punning alteration of réticule after ridicule (“ridicule”).
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Word family
NOUN
ADJECTIVE
ADVERB
Related words
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.C1 AdvancedIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.7.0–8.0TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 5.0–5.595–113TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.945–990
- Frequency
- Frequent
- Level
- C1 · Advanced
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