as in joking
marked by or expressive of mild or good-natured teasing
the lightly ribbing tone tipped me off that this wasn't a serious reprimand
Synonyms & Similar Words
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as in mocking
Synonyms & Similar Words
as in teasing
to make fun of in a good-natured way
ribbed him a bit about fumbling such an easy play
Synonyms & Similar Words
Examples Sentences
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Recent Examples of ribbing
Tracy Brown, Los Angeles Times, 16 Sep. 2024
The jokes centered around the nuances of the Black community that has long called Harlem home, but the crowd embraced the good-natured ribbing.
—Jean E. Palmieri, WWD, 10 Sep. 2024
Lakers LeBron James says pay cut was about making sure his relationship with Lakers works
July 7, 2024
Durant added some good-natured ribbing of some fellow Team USA players.
—Chuck Schilken, Los Angeles Times, 8 July 2024
McCoubrey was in the Navy, while Samaras and Theis served in the Army — a divide that's become the subject of some good-natured ribbing in their home.
—James Brown, CBS News, 3 July 2024
See all Example Sentences for ribbing 
Noun
Father-son team and first time hosts Eugene Levy and Dan Levy hit the stage Sunday at the Peacock theater to get the 76th Primetime Emmy Awards started with feel-good jokes and gentle ribbing.
—Tracy Brown, Los Angeles Times, 16 Sep. 2024
The jokes centered around the nuances of the Black community that has long called Harlem home, but the crowd embraced the good-natured ribbing.
—Jean E. Palmieri, WWD, 10 Sep. 2024
Lakers LeBron James says pay cut was about making sure his relationship with Lakers works
July 7, 2024
Durant added some good-natured ribbing of some fellow Team USA players.
—Chuck Schilken, Los Angeles Times, 8 July 2024
McCoubrey was in the Navy, while Samaras and Theis served in the Army — a divide that's become the subject of some good-natured ribbing in their home.
—James Brown, CBS News, 3 July 2024
See all Example Sentences for ribbing
Recent Examples of Synonyms for ribbing
Verb
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The show will see Beyoncé perform songs from her country album Cowboy Carter live for the first time—with the NFL teasing that there will be surprise guests joining the Grammy-winning musician onstage at the NRG Stadium.Gord Magill, Newsweek, 21 Dec. 2024
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The four-time Grammy winner began teasing Lana as early as last year, revealing a set of covers in December 2023.Brendan Le, People.com, 20 Dec. 2024
Verb
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Nile and Bernard seemed like best friends, always joking and very excited.David Browne, Rolling Stone, 22 Dec. 2024
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Not just the kind of vaudevillian two guys joking around with each other on stage, but even just as individual comedians.Justin Koreis, Rolling Stone, 21 Dec. 2024
Adjective
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As the group grows, so do the number of sarcastic or unserious posts and comments within it.Tim Ryan, Newsweek, 18 Dec. 2024
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His gibes at China on X were often aggressive and sarcastic.Motoko Rich, New York Times, 15 Dec. 2024
Noun
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The press has enjoyed myriad chances to celebrate the wordplay of Stanley Kirk Burrell, but new qualification from large-scale customers might mean HAMR drives will be actually available, to buy, as physical objects, for anyone who can afford the most magnetic space possible.Ars Technica, Ars Technica, 17 Dec. 2024
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The wordplay Slater infuses into songs like that remind Menken of the work of his late, great partner Howard Ashman.Kate Erbland, IndieWire, 21 Nov. 2024
Noun
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Directed by Sidney Poitier, the film paired Poitier with Bill Cosby and Harry Belafonte in a story that was filled with humor, heart, and sharp cultural insight.Shelby Stewart, Essence, 17 Dec. 2024
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Through these two characters, the film blends touching moments, humor, and a very realistic depiction of navigating love and relationships in a bustling urban environment.Jesse Whittock, Deadline, 17 Dec. 2024
Noun
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Healy and Banks began trading barbs last week after Healy criticized her over her post commenting on Charli XCX’s appearance.Daysia Tolentino, NBC News, 9 Dec. 2024
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The barb would elicit responses from both Drake and J. Cole, with J. Cole bowing out early, leaving the rhyme war focused squarely on Drake and Kendrick Lamar.Preezy Brown, VIBE.com, 21 Nov. 2024
Thesaurus Entries Near ribbing
Cite this Entry
“Ribbing.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/ribbing. Accessed 31 Dec. 2024.
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