gibe

1 of 2

verb

ˈjīb 

variants or jibe

gibed or jibed; gibing or jibing; gibes or jibes

intransitive verb

: to utter taunting words

transitive verb

: to deride or tease with taunting words

boxers gibing each other before a fight

giber noun

or jiber

plural gibers or jibers

gibe

2 of 2

noun

variants or jibe

plural gibes or jibes

: a taunting remark

… Rock made a gibe at the 50-year-old Pinkett Smith's shaved head …

—Armani Syed

The billionaire … has romped across the service hurling gibes and memes …

—Mike Isaac and Lauren Hirsch

Many of those struggling economically say Macron is out of touch, and a common gibe labels him the "president of the rich."

—Monique El-Faizy

To be sure, his jibes at CNN and other news outlets were an important part of his political persona from the start.

—John Cassidy

Did you know?

Confused about jibe and gibe? The distinction actually isn't as clear-cut as some commentators would like it to be. Jibe is used both for the verb meaning "to be in accord" or "agree" (as in "the results do not jibe with those from other studies") and for the nautical verb and noun referring to the act of shifting a sail from one side to the other ("jibe the mainsail," "a risky jibe in heavy seas"). Gibe is used as a verb and noun for derisive teasing or taunting. But jibe is also a recognized variant of gibe, so it too has teasing or taunting uses. Gibe has been used occasionally as a variant of jibe, but the use is not common enough to warrant dictionary entry, and is widely considered an error.

Synonyms

Verb

• deride
• jeer
• laugh (at)
• mock
• ridicule
• scout
• shoot down
• skewer

Choose the Right Synonym for gibe

scoff, jeer, gibe, fleer, sneer, flout mean to show one's contempt in derision or mockery.

scoff stresses insolence, disrespect, or incredulity as motivating the derision.

scoffed at their concerns

jeer suggests a coarser more undiscriminating derision.

the crowd jeered at the prisoners

gibe implies taunting either good-naturedly or in sarcastic derision.

hooted and gibed at the umpire

fleer suggests grinning or grimacing derisively.

the saucy jackanapes fleered at my credulity

sneer stresses insulting by contemptuous facial expression, phrasing, or tone of voice.

sneered at anything romantic

flout stresses contempt shown by refusal to heed.

flouted the conventions of polite society

Examples of gibe in a Sentence

Verb

teammates gibing each other when one fouls up an important play

Recent Examples on the Web

Verb

Thompson was dressed less formally, and gibed at Weinberger about his attire. —Jay Nordlinger, National Review, 4 Dec. 2023

But the Space Force decision was announced six months ago, and suggesting it’s at fault for the New Glenn delay doesn’t gibe with Blue’s previous statements. —Tim Fernholz, Quartz, 26 Feb. 2021

Noun

His gibes at China on X were often aggressive and sarcastic. —Motoko Rich, New York Times, 15 Dec. 2024

The gibe is electorally perilous because of the large Puerto Rican populations in several swing states, most notably Pennsylvania. —Niall Stanage, The Hill, 30 Oct. 2024

The gibe blew Quayle off the debate stage; then, just a few weeks later, Republicans won the White House in a landslide. —Lorraine Ali, Los Angeles Times, 1 Oct. 2024

Moderate Republicans Thursday distanced themselves from Trump’s gibe as pundits branded the statement as an unforced error that could fuel Democratic political momentum. —Dave Goldiner, New York Daily News, 1 Aug. 2024

Trump’s apparent gibe pointed to a potential problem. —Aaron Blake, Washington Post, 18 July 2024

The Left’s answer to the focus on President Biden’s debilitated state is — to paraphrase the old gibe about Rudy Giuliani’s tendency to bring everyone back to September 11 — a noun, a verb, an overheated adjective, and Project 2025. —Rich Lowry, National Review, 17 July 2024

The fact someone — whose motive and ideology remain unclear — sought to end his life has led to inevitable gibes about roosting chickens. —Mark Z. Barabak, Los Angeles Times, 14 July 2024

But not before a few gibes about interracial dynamics. —David Rooney, The Hollywood Reporter, 2 July 2024

Word History

Etymology

Verb

perhaps from Middle French giber to shake, handle roughly

Noun

derivative of gibe entry 1

First Known Use

Verb

1567, in the meaning defined at intransitive sense

Noun

1572, in the meaning defined above

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Kids Definition

gibe

verb

variants or jibe

ˈjīb

gibed or jibed; gibing or jibing

: taunt, jeer

gibe noun

giber noun