laughing stock

NOUN

object of ridicule

Synonyms

WEAK

Aunt Sally butt dupe fair game fall guy fool goat joke laughingstock stooge target victim

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

In a July 4, 2013, email to Nikolic, Epstein wrote: “Bill risks going from richest man to biggest hypocrite, melinda a laughing stock, pledges will disappear as a result.”

From The Wall Street Journal • Feb. 25, 2026

O'Connor had followed the Jets' sorry search for a successor to legendary quarterback Joe Namath, which had turned them into a laughing stock.

From BBC • Sep. 7, 2025

"I would be a laughing stock," he says.

From BBC • Aug. 8, 2025

But having told Variety that his goal was to “revive cinema and make bold choices,” the news about Kool-Aid makes Matt a laughing stock.

From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 25, 2025

It must have looked pretty daft from his side, and if he hadn’t been such a decent type, I’d have been a laughing stock in no time.

From "Never Let Me Go" by Kazuo Ishiguro