Ribald — Meaning, Definition & Synonyms

adjective noun /ˈri-bəld/ rib·ald

Meaning & Definition of Ribald

Ribald (adjective)

  1. marked by coarseness or lewdness, crude, offensive
  2. characterized by or using coarse, indecent humor

Ribald (noun)

  1. a person coarse or lewd in appearance, speech, writing, or thought, a ribald person

Ribald (adjective) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. depicting or referring to sexual matters in a way that is unacceptable in polite society

    "some of the movie's most ribald, and thus funniest, scenes were cut for showing on broadcast television"

    similar: bawdy, blue, coarse, crude, dirty, filthy, foul, gross, gutter, impure, indecent, lascivious, lewd, locker-room, nasty, obscene, pornographic, porny, profane, raunchy, smutty, stag, trashy, unprintable, vulgar, wanton, X-rated
    related: broad, coarse-grained, gamy, off, off-color, racy, risqué, salacious, salty, suggestive, barnyard, earthy, scatological, immodest, indecorous, indelicate, low, unbecoming, depraved, kinky, louche, naughty, perverse, perverted, wicked, exceptionable, objectionable, unacceptable, undesirable, unwanted, unwelcome, abhorrent, debasing, disgusting, loathsome, offensive, repellent, repugnant, repulsive, revolting, distasteful, obnoxious, unpleasant, blamable, blameworthy, censurable, reprehensible, atrocious, infamous, abusive, scurrilous, hard-core, soft, soft-core
    opposite: clean, decent, G-rated, nonobscene, wholesome
    near: priggish, prim, prudish, puritanical, staid, straitlaced, Victorian, correct, decorous, genteel, nice, polite, proper, respectable, seemly, innocuous, inoffensive, acceptable, agreeable, desirable, pleasant, pleasing, welcome, appropriate, becoming, fit, meet, suitable, immaculate, perfect, pure, spotless, virginal, approved, endorsed, sanctioned

  2. hinting at or intended to call to mind matters regarded as indecent

    "a ribald tale rife with double entendres and racy innuendo"

    similar: bawdy, blue, gamy, lewd, off, off-color, racy, risqué, salty, spicy, suggestive
    related: leering, barnyard, coarse, coarse-grained, crude, earthy, foul, gross, vulgar, dirty, filthy, gutter, indecent, lascivious, locker-room, nasty, obscene, pornographic, porny, prurient, raunchy, smutty, stag, unprintable, unpublishable, warm, X-rated, immodest, indecorous, indelicate, naughty
    near: clean, decent, G-rated, nonobscene, innocuous, inoffensive, priggish, prim, prudish, puritanical, staid, straitlaced, Victorian, correct, decorous, genteel, nice, polite, proper, respectable, seemly

Synonyms, Thesaurus & Another Word for Ribald

The most common words with a similar meaning to Ribald:

bawdy, blue, coarse, crude, dirty, filthy, foul, gross, gutter, impure, indecent, lascivious, lewd, locker-room, nasty, obscene, pornographic, porny, profane, raunchy, smutty, stag, trashy, unprintable, vulgar, wanton, X-rated, gamy, off, off-color, racy, risqué, salty, spicy, suggestive

Antonyms & Opposite Words for Ribald

Words with the opposite meaning of Ribald:

clean, decent, G-rated, nonobscene, wholesome

Related Words for Ribald

broad, coarse-grained, salacious, barnyard, earthy, scatological, immodest, indecorous, indelicate, low, unbecoming, depraved, kinky, louche, naughty, perverse, perverted, wicked, exceptionable, objectionable, unacceptable, undesirable, unwanted, unwelcome, abhorrent, debasing, disgusting, loathsome, offensive, repellent

Near Antonyms of Ribald

priggish, prim, prudish, puritanical, staid, straitlaced, Victorian, correct, decorous, genteel, nice, polite, proper, respectable, seemly, innocuous, inoffensive, acceptable, agreeable, desirable, pleasant, pleasing, welcome, appropriate, becoming, fit, meet, suitable, immaculate, perfect

Origin & Etymology of Ribald

Middle English ribaud person of low status, scoundrel, lecher, from Anglo-French, from Old French riber to be debauched, of Germanic origin; akin to Old High German rīban to be in heat, copulate, literally, to rub

First known use: circa 1500

Frequently Asked Questions about Ribald

What does "Ribald" mean?

"Ribald" means marked by coarseness or lewdness, crude, offensive. As an an adjective and a noun, it is defined as: marked by coarseness or lewdness, crude, offensive. It has 2 distinct senses.

What is another word for "Ribald"?

Other words for "Ribald" include bawdy, blue, coarse, crude, dirty, filthy, foul and gross. The best synonym depends on which meaning of "Ribald" you intend.

What are different ways to say "Ribald"?

There are 86 words and phrases with a similar meaning to "Ribald". Common alternatives include bawdy, blue, coarse, crude, dirty, filthy, foul, gross, gutter and impure.

What is the opposite of "Ribald"?

Antonyms of "Ribald" include clean, decent, G-rated, nonobscene and wholesome. Near antonyms include priggish, prim, prudish and puritanical.

How do you use "Ribald" in a sentence?

Examples of "Ribald" in a sentence: "some of the movie's most ribald, and thus funniest, scenes were cut for showing on broadcast television"; "a ribald tale rife with double entendres and racy innuendo".

Is "Ribald" a noun, verb, or adjective?

"Ribald" can be used as an adjective and a noun, depending on the context.

How do you pronounce "Ribald"?

"Ribald" is pronounced /ˈri-bəld/ and divided into syllables as rib·ald.

What is the origin of the word "Ribald"?

"Ribald" comes from Middle English ribaud person of low status, scoundrel, lecher, from Anglo-French, from Old French riber to be debauched, of Germanic origin; akin to Old High German rīban to be in heat, copulate, literally, to rub. First known use: circa 1500.