ridiculiza

Ridiculiza is the third-person singular present indicative form of the Spanish verb ridiculizar, meaning to cause someone or something to appear ridiculous or to mock, deride, or dismiss through ridicule. It is used to describe an action in which an individual or group treats another person, idea, or behavior as laughable or worthy of scorn. The verb can be conjugated across tenses and moods (for example: yo ridiculizo, tú ridiculizas, él ridiculiza; que ridiculice). It also appears in the affirmative imperative form as ridiculiza tú, used to instruct someone to mock or deride in informal contexts.

In usage, ridiculiza can convey a range of intensities from light teasing to harsh denigration, depending on the surrounding wording and tone. It is common in journalism, opinion pieces, and social media where a speaker aims to undermine an argument or persona by portraying it as ridiculous. Related verbs include burlarse, mofarse, escarnecer, and menospreciar, each with its own nuance regarding intention and level of insult. A related noun is ridiculización, referring to the act or process of ridiculizing.

Etymology traces ridiculiza to ridículo, meaning laughable, which in turn derives from Latin ridiculus. The construction with -izar forms a verb meaning "to make something laughable." In contemporary usage, ridiculizar and ridiculiza are standard in Spanish and should be used with awareness of their potentially denigrating impact.