Ridicules

To ridicule is to subject someone or something to mockery, derision, or contemptuous language. It involves making fun of someone or something in a scornful or mocking way, often with the intent to belittle, embarrass, or dismiss its value or importance. This can be done through words, actions, or a combination of both. The act aims to diminish the target, making them appear foolish, absurd, or insignificant. Ridicule can range from playful teasing to harsh and malicious attacks, but at its core, it involves an expression of disapproval and the attempt to make someone or something appear laughable.

Ridicules meaning with examples

• The comedian, known for his sharp wit, often ridicules current events and political figures, using satire to highlight their flaws and inconsistencies. His jokes are often met with laughter, but some find the targets of his humor to be genuinely upset. While funny, his jokes can cross the line between being light hearted and cutting someone down to size. His jokes are often considered thought provoking as well.
• Despite her serious proposals for a new project, the board members ridicules her ideas, dismissing them as impractical and unrealistic. They found her ideas to be quite comical and didn't hesitate to point out the flaws in her plans. The ridicule undermined her credibility, leaving her feeling discouraged and humiliated. Even though she felt belittled she pressed on hoping for a better response later.
• The online troll, hiding behind anonymity, ridicules the victims of a natural disaster. His hateful comments are often used to get a reaction from anyone who might be offended. He uses the anonymity to mock their suffering, showing a complete lack of empathy. This malicious behavior is considered highly inappropriate and causes immense pain to those affected by the tragedy. He eventually was caught and charged.
• The teacher ridicules a student's incorrect answer in front of the class. His actions were intended to get the student to be ashamed and attempt to work harder to succeed. The laughter of the other students exacerbates the situation, leaving the student feeling humiliated and unwilling to participate in future class discussions. Though well intentioned it often has an opposite effect in many situations.
• The fashion critic ridicules the celebrity's outfit, calling it a sartorial disaster. The harsh words in his review were scathing and unkind, and resulted in a widespread online debate. The celebrity, in response, was very upset and took to social media in an attempt to fight back. He went on to comment on the overall lack of professionalism of many reviewers across multiple genres.