English Dictionary |
MOCKING
Pronunciation (US): | (GB): |
IPA (US): |
Dictionary entry overview: What does mocking mean?
• MOCKING (adjective)
The adjective MOCKING has 2 senses:
1. abusing vocally; expressing contempt or ridicule
2. playfully vexing (especially by ridicule)
Familiarity information: MOCKING used as an adjective is rare.
Dictionary entry details
Sense 1
Meaning:
Abusing vocally; expressing contempt or ridicule
Synonyms:
derisive; gibelike; jeering; mocking; taunting
Context example:
taunting shouts of 'coward' and 'sissy'
Similar:
disrespectful (exhibiting lack of respect; rude and discourteous)
Sense 2
Meaning:
Playfully vexing (especially by ridicule)
Synonyms:
Context example:
his face wore a somewhat quizzical almost impertinent air
Similar:
playful (full of fun and high spirits)
Context examples
And Miss Ingram had looked down at her with a mocking air, and exclaimed, "Oh, what a little puppet!"
(Jane Eyre, by Charlotte Brontë)
There was a mocking smile on the bloated face which seemed to drive me mad.
(Dracula, by Bram Stoker)
He broke out in mocking laughter, then turned his left ear to the pillow as a sign that he wished no further conversation.
(The Sea-Wolf, by Jack London)
‘Steady old Jim!’ said she, and with a kind o’ mocking laugh, she ran out of the room.
(The Memoirs of Sherlock Holmes, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)
But Martin, looking into his eyes, saw no fear there,—naught but a curious and mocking devil.
(Martin Eden, by Jack London)
Fuzzy little black-velvet monkeys, with snow-white teeth and gleaming, mocking eyes, chattered at us as we passed.
(The Lost World, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)
She inquired of the gardener where his boy was, but he smiled, and said: “He has just come home on his three-legged horse, and the others have been mocking him, and crying: “Here comes our hobblety jib back again!”
(Fairy Tales, by The Brothers Grimm)
Not that I am vain of it, now, you mocking boy, she says, when I smile; but because you used to say you thought it so beautiful; and because, when I first began to think about you, I used to peep in the glass, and wonder whether you would like very much to have a lock of it.
(David Copperfield, by Charles Dickens)
Another chant from Hagar produced another apparition, not a lovely one, for with a bang an ugly black imp appeared and, having croaked a reply, tossed a dark bottle at Hugo and disappeared with a mocking laugh.
(Little Women, by Louisa May Alcott)
To his sombre and cynical spirit all popular applause was always abhorrent, and nothing amused him more at the end of a successful case than to hand over the actual exposure to some orthodox official, and to listen with a mocking smile to the general chorus of misplaced congratulation.
(His Last Bow, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)
Learn English with... Proverbs |
"You already possess everything necessary to become great." (Native American proverb, Crow)
"Will take one to the water and bring him back thirsty." (Armenian proverb)
"Haste and speed are rarely good" (Dutch proverb)