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Antonyms for ribald

Grammar : Adj
Spell : rib-uhld; spelling pronunciation rahy-buhld
Phonetic Transcription : ˈrɪb əld; spelling pronunciation ˈraɪ bəld

Definition of ribald

Origin :
  • c.1500, from ribald, ribaud (n.), mid-13c., "a rogue, ruffian, rascall, scoundrell, varlet, filthie fellow" [Cotgrave], from Old French ribaut, ribalt "rogue, scoundrel, lewd lover," also as an adjective, "wanton, depraved, dissolute, licentious," of uncertain origin, perhaps (with suffix -ald) from riber "be wanton, sleep around, dally amorously," from a Germanic source (cf. Old High German riban "be wanton," literally "to rub," possibly from the common euphemistic use of "rub" words to mean "have sex"), from Proto-Germanic *wribanan, from PIE root *wer- (3) "to turn, bend" (see versus).
  • adj vulgar, obscene
Example sentences :
  • A cry of surprise was raised, and drowned in a volley of ribald inquiry and chaff.
  • Extract from : « The Black Bag » by Louis Joseph Vance
  • But yesternight that ribald mocked him with his lack of scars.
  • Extract from : « The Sea-Hawk » by Raphael Sabatini
  • All his life Alexander had been the victim of the most ribald calumnies.
  • Extract from : « The Life of Cesare Borgia » by Raphael Sabatini
  • Logan raised his voice to repeat the words and to add a ribald comment.
  • Extract from : « Nan of Music Mountain » by Frank H. Spearman
  • Mr. Harding showed that he had a large repertoire of ribald rhyme.
  • Extract from : « The Wrong Woman » by Charles D. Stewart
  • "Heed not their ribald scoffs," said Montagu Percy, loftily.
  • Extract from : « The Telegraph Boy » by Horatio Alger, Jr.
  • We must do our best to be frivolous and ribald, and supply a proper foreground.
  • Extract from : « The Wit and Humor of America, Volume X (of X) » by Various
  • Not a few of the fabliaux are cynically gross—ribald but not voluptuous.
  • Extract from : « A History of French Literature » by Edward Dowden
  • A burst of applause greeted the performance of this ribald parody.
  • Extract from : « The Northern Iron » by George A. Birmingham
  • “Smithson, this is no matter for ribald jest,” said the lieutenant, sharply.
  • Extract from : « The Queen's Scarlet » by George Manville Fenn

Synonyms for ribald

Based on : Thesaurus.com - Gutenberg.org - Dictionary.com - Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019