ridiculize

Ridiculize is a transitive verb meaning to subject something to ridicule or to make it seem ridiculous; to mock or deride. It denotes active, deliberate mockery, often with the aim of belittling a claim, idea, person, or behavior.

Etymology: formed from the noun ridicule plus the suffix -ize. It is a less common or somewhat dated variant of the more standard verb ridicule. Some dictionaries treat ridiculize as a rarely used alternative spelling; others list it as a valid though uncommon form. Pronunciation generally follows the -ize suffix: ridiculize pronounced ri-DIK-yuh-lahyz or /rɪˈdɪkjəlaɪz/.

Usage notes: In many contexts, speakers use 'ridicule' as the standard verb: "to ridicule someone's proposal." "Ridiculize" can carry a stronger sense of systematic or pronounced mockery and may appear in satirical or polemical writing, but it is less common in contemporary prose.

Examples: The editorial ridiculizes the plan by exaggerating its flaws. The comedian ridiculizes public figures through parody.

See also: ridicule; mockery; derision; satire; lampoon.