They say that if you can’t say something nice, you shouldn’t say anything at all.
So, if you’re wondering what to call someone who mocks others without being mean yourself, you’ve come to just the right place!
Below, we’ve compiled a great list of words that will assist you in confronting the meanies of the world. So, read on!
Words for a Person Who Always Makes Fun of Others
- Bully
- Tormentor
- Unkind
- Derisive
- Abuser
- Mean
- Scornful
- Rude
- Sarcastic
- Jerk
KEY TAKEAWAYS
- The best term for someone who always makes fun of others is a “bully.”
- Someone who harms others, either through their words or their actions, can be called a “tormentor.”
- “Unkind” is a polite and tactful way to refer to a person who mocks other people.
Keep reading! In the next section, we’ll discuss our top three terms for a person who always makes fun of others in more detail.
We’ll even show you how to use each of our favorite terms using some helpful example sentences!
Bully
A person who always makes fun of others is called a “bully.”
Merriam-Webster defines the term “bully” as “one who is habitually cruel, insulting, or threatening to others who are weaker, smaller, or in some way vulnerable.”
Many of us have had the unfortunate experience of encountering a “bully.” In fact, bullies find their way onto playgrounds at school, in neighborhoods, or even in the office at work!
As you can see from the definition above, a “bully” is someone who derives pleasure from making fun of others by mocking their appearance or any of their other attributes.
In severe cases, bullies can even go as far as to intimidate their victims physically.
So, next time you see someone flinging harsh words at other people, you’ll know just what to call them – a no-good bully!
Have a look at how we’ve used this term in some example sentences:
Joffrey was an awful bully back in school, but after seeking therapy, his overall disposition became a lot more pleasant.
Don’t listen to anything Tessa says – she’s just a bully.
Tormentor
“Tormenting” is essentially a fancy word for “mocking.” Therefore, “tormentor” is a great word for someone who makes fun of others.
According to the Collins Dictionary, “Someone’s tormentor is a person who deliberately causes them physical or mental pain.”
This definition makes sense when one considers the etymology of the word “tormenter.” After all, it comes from the Old French word “tormentor,” which literally means “torturer.”
Constantly mocking another person will wound their self-esteem.
In this way, a person who torments others is mentally torturing them, even if the “tormentor” in question never hurts their victim physically.
Let’s see how you might use this term in some example sentences:
Casper was far too fearful of his tormentor to tell any adults about what he was experiencing.
Cassidy was Gerald’s greatest tormentor and would corner him throughout the day to make derisive comments about his hair and fashion sense.
Unkind
“Unkind” is an appropriate adjective for someone who makes fun of others.
The Collins Dictionary states that “If someone is unkind, they behave in an unpleasant, unfriendly, or slightly cruel way.”
Therefore, you can describe someone who makes fun of others as an “unkind” person in general.
However, it is also perfectly correct to describe a person’s actions or behavior as “unkind” without calling them an unkind person altogether.
If you are confronting someone who makes fun of others, calling them “unkind” is one of the more polite and diplomatic ways to address them or their behavior.
Therefore, this is a good choice if you want to point out that someone’s treatment of other people is cruel and unacceptable without stooping to their level!
Finally, let’s check out how you can use this phrase in some examples:
He was always a very unkind man who would mock his children over their failures.
Your behavior towards Monica yesterday was incredibly unkind.