ridiculizes

Ridiculizes is the third-person singular present tense of the verb ridiculize, meaning to cause something to be regarded as ridiculous or to mock or belittle by presenting it as laughable. The term is formed from the noun ridicule, with the English verb-forming suffix -ize. In British English, the corresponding form is ridiculises, reflecting a different spelling pattern.

Etymology and related forms: Ridiculize derives from ridicule, which comes from Old French ridicule and ultimately from Latin ridiculus (laughable). Ridiculize is one of several related verbs used to describe making something appear absurd; the more common synonym ridicules (from ridicule) is often used in everyday prose. Related nouns include ridicule and ridiculization (the act of making something ridiculous), while related adjectives include ridiculous.

Usage and nuance: Ridiculizes appears in analytical, journalistic, and literary writing to describe a rhetorical action that renders a subject as absurd. It can apply to ideas, policies, arguments, behaviors, or institutions. The term carries a pejorative connotation, signaling criticism or contempt, and may be employed to describe deliberate satire or dismissal. Because of its potential for implying scorn, some writers prefer more precise verbs such as ridicules, mocks, derides, or satirizes depending on the context and the intended tone.

Examples: The columnist ridiculizes the proposal by exaggerating its flaws. The comedian ridiculizes contemporary politics to expose contradictions. The article ridiculizes stereotypes by presenting counterexamples that are hard to dismiss.

See also: ridicule, ridiculization, satire, derision.