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Definitions

make a fool of

VERB
humiliate
Synonyms
STRONGEST
confuse crush degrade demean depress disgrace humble shame snub subdue
STRONG
abase abash base blister break chagrin chasten confound conquer debase denigrate deny discomfit discountenance dishonor downplay lower mortify pan rip slam smear squash vanquish wither
WEAK
bemean bring down bring low cast down cut down to size make ashamed play down put out of countenance put to shame run down shoot down take down take down a peg tear down
Antonyms
STRONGEST
build up encourage honor praise promote release respect upgrade
STRONG
agree allow boost cherish compliment elevate fail flatter laud lose surrender yield
VERB
outwit/outsmart
Synonyms
WEAK
baffle bamboozle beat bewilder cap cheat circumvent con confuse deceive defeat defraud dupe end-run fake out finagle fox gull have hoax hoodwink lead astray make a monkey of mislead outdo outfox outgeneral outguess outjockey outmaneuver outthink overreach pull a fast one on put one over on run circles around swindle take in top trick worst
VERB
ridicule
Synonyms
STRONGEST
deride humiliate lampoon mock scoff scorn taunt
STRONG
banter caricature cartoon chaff deflate expose fleer gibe haze jape jeer jive jolly josh kid mimic needle parody pooh-pooh quiz rag rally rib ride roast satirize sneer takeoff travesty twit unmask
WEAK
laugh at make a game of make a laughingstock make fun of poke fun at pull one's leg put down rail at razz run down send up show up
Antonyms
STRONGEST
approve compliment flatter praise
STRONG
be serious
VERB
satirize
Synonyms
STRONGEST
lampoon mock parody spoof
STRONG
banter burlesque caricature cartoon deride haze humiliate jeer jive josh kid mimic needle pan rib ride roast
WEAK
caricaturize jape laugh at make fun of poke fun at pull one's leg razz
Antonyms
STRONGEST
praise
VERB
stultify
Synonyms
STRONG
mock
WEAK
make absurd make ridiculous
Antonyms
WEAK
excite
VERB
twit
Synonyms
STRONG
banter caricature cartoon chaff deride expose fleer gibe haze humiliate jape jeer jest jive jolly josh kid lampoon laugh at mimic mock needle pan parody pooh-pooh quiz rag rally rib ride roast satirize scoff scorn scout sneer take off taunt travesty
WEAK
make a game of make a laughingstock make fun of poke fun at pull one's leg put down rail at razz run down send up show up
Antonyms
STRONG
admire approve commend compliment flatter laud praise

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.

She added: "Please don't try and vote if you're watching on demand, you'll just make a fool of yourself."

From BBC • Dec. 15, 2024

Also, a way to make a fool of himself for no reason at all.

From Salon • Dec. 14, 2023

“I can’t hear it because I make a fool of myself, I immediately start crying,” she said.

From Seattle Times • Mar. 30, 2023

“But he was also an actor who was willing to go to a place where he wasn’t afraid to make a fool of himself. He wasn’t wrapped up in being this supercool, emotionless, good-looking dude.”

From New York Times • Jul. 1, 2022

All of a sudden, I was afraid that I was about to make a fool of myself and end up in seventh grade in the middle of the school year.

From "When I Was Puerto Rican" by Esmeralda Santiago