ENGLISH
REFERENCE

ridicule

n. uncountable
C1 Advanced US //ˈɹɪdəkˌjuɫ// UK //ɹˈɪdɪkjˌuːl// ridicule Archaic Dialect

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.


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.

Synonyms
Etymology 1

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.

Etymology 2

Apparently from French ridicule (“reticule”), probably a punning alteration of réticule after ridicule (“ridicule”).

Usage

Often follows verbs like 'face', 'endure', or 'suffer'; frequently paired with the preposition 'from'.

© 2026 English Reference