[L]et no zealous Christian trust the rogue,—the filthy ribald rascal is a liar.
Source: wiktionary
Ribald
/ˈɹɪb.əld/
Synonyms for "ribald" (125 found)
Ranked by relevance and common usage.
Closest matches (25)
Strong matches (38)
damnatorydenunciatorydevildirtydysphemisticearthyenfant terribleepicierepitheticeroticexcommunicativeexcommunicatoryexecratoryfescenninefilthyfoulfoul mouthedfoul tonguedfoul-mouthedfoul-spoken
Show 14 more words
Related words (62)
Choosing the right synonym
- Closest matches in this entry: bawdy, abusive, arriviste, babbitt, base.
- Sentence evidence is available for ribald, so synonym choice can be checked against real usage rather than a flat word list.
- Ranking signals come from wordnet, opengloss, moby, derived_reverse, and related lexical sources.
Synonym selection checklist
- Match the part of speech before comparing meanings.
- Check whether the synonym changes intensity, formality, or emotional tone.
- Read the replacement inside the full sentence, not just beside "ribald".
- Prefer the clearest word over the most unusual word when writing for speed or comprehension.
When not to replace "ribald"
Keep "ribald" when the sentence already sounds natural, when a synonym would add unintended emphasis, or when readers need the most familiar wording. A synonym should clarify or sharpen the message, not simply make the sentence look more varied.
If two options seem close, choose the one that best matches the audience and purpose of the sentence.
Replacement workflow
1. Preserve meaning
Choose a synonym only if it keeps the core idea of "ribald" intact in the sentence you are editing.
2. Tune tone
Check whether the replacement sounds more formal, casual, emotional, technical, or forceful than the original word.
3. Re-read context
Read the full sentence after the swap. Keep the synonym only when the sentence becomes clearer or more precise.
Review note: Synonym lists are ranked with lexical data and reviewed for practical writing value. Use the comparison notes, sentence evidence, and source labels together; a high-ranking synonym can still be wrong when the audience, register, or grammar changes.
Final fit check
After choosing a replacement for "ribald", read the sentence once for meaning and once for rhythm. The best synonym should feel natural in the full sentence, not only accurate in a word list.
If the synonym makes the sentence slower, vaguer, or more dramatic than intended, keep "ribald" or choose a simpler alternative from the closest-match group.
Related word relations
OpenGloss and ConceptNet supply richer edges like generalizations, collocations, and derivations.
More general
3 entriesMore specific
4 entriesbawdy humorcrude languagelewd humorvulgar banter
Collocations
5 entriesribald humorribald jokeribald languageribald remarkribald satire
Inflections
2 entriesmore ribaldmost ribald
Derivations
2 entriessimilar
1 entriesSample sentences
7 total sentences available.
But when he died the "Reform Democracy" instinctively returned to its vomit of ribald insult.
Source: wiktionary
[T]he curious crowd had collected in the street […], with here and there a scoffer uttering his incredulity and courage with scornful remarks or ribald cries.
Source: wiktionary
Anyway up against Reba McEntire, '60s-rock-bred big city escapee K.T. Oslin comes off both more ribald ("Younger Men") and prouder of the bras and bridges she used to burn ("'8s Ladies") in her best country hits.
Source: wiktionary
Showing 4 of 7 available sentences.
Common questions
What are the closest synonyms for "ribald"?
Closest matches include bawdy, abusive, arriviste, babbitt, base.
How should I check whether a synonym fits "ribald"?
Compare the replacement against real sentence context. This entry includes sample sentences so you can check tone, grammar, and meaning before swapping words.