Gibe vs. Jibe: What's the Difference?

Understanding the distinctions between gibe and jibe is crucial for clear communication. Gibe generally means to make mocking or insulting remarks, used predominantly as a verb. On the other hand, jibe can either refer to a sailing maneuver that involves shifting from one side to the other or mean that something is in agreement, often seen as 'jibe with'.

By signing up, you agree to the Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy.
California residents, see our CA Privacy Notice.

Gibe vs. Jibe

How do you use the word gibe in a sentence?

The word gibe is typically used to express the act of taunting or making derisive remarks. It is often employed to convey criticism or sarcasm in a manner that might be seen as humorous by some and offensive by others. Understanding the context and tone is essential when using gibe to avoid misinterpretation.
Examples of gibe in a sentence
  • After losing the game, the player endured the rival team's gibes without response.
  • Her friends' gibes about her quirky hat were taken in good humor.
  • The comedian's routine included a few spirited gibes at political figures.

How do you use the word jibe in a sentence?

The word jibe is used when describing a state of agreement or consistency between different things. It can apply to opinions, facts, or actions, suggesting that they align well with each other. Jibe is often used in sailing contexts as well, where it refers to the action of changing a sailboat's direction with respect to the wind.
Examples of jibe in a sentence
  • Her story doesn't jibe with the evidence provided during the investigation.
  • We need to jibe the sailboat to the starboard to catch the wind properly.
  • The team's strategy didn't quite jibe with the CEO's vision for the company's future.

Gibe and jibe definition, parts of speech, and pronunciation

Gibe definition:
A gibe is a taunting or mocking remark intended to deride or provoke someone.

Gibe parts of speech:
  • As a verb: He gibed at their attempts to solve the problem, claiming they were all wrong.
  • As a noun: Her gibe stung more than she intended, causing a rift in the friendship.

Gibe pronunciation:
Gibe is pronounced as /ʤaɪb/.

Jibe definition:
As a sailing term, jibe refers to shifting a sail from one side of a boat to the other. In everyday language, it means to agree or correspond truthfully with something.

Jibe parts of speech:
  • As a verb: They had to quickly jibe the boat to avoid the incoming storm.
  • As an intransitive verb: The witness' testimony did not jibe with the evidence presented.

Jibe pronunciation:
Jibe is pronounced as /ʤaɪb/.

Gibe vs. jibe in a nutshell

While gibe and jibe are pronounced identically and even spelled similarly, they serve different linguistic functions. Gibe is used when referring to mocking or taunting remarks. In contrast, jibe is relevant in the context of sailing or when denoting agreement between ideas or facts. It's imperative to choose the right term based on the intended meaning, as mixing them up could lead to miscommunication or even offense.

Get AI Writing Assistance Wherever You Type

Make sure your vocabulary is on point and every punctuation mark is in the right place, no matter where you’re working. Grammarly works across more than 500,000 websites and apps so you can improve your writing without copying, pasting, or breaking focused.

Icons for Google Docs, Microsoft Word, Gmail, Microsoft Outlook, Sheets, Discord, Firefox, Salesforce, X, Reddit, Android, Ios

Great writing gets work done.

By signing up, you agree to the Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy. California residents, see our CA Privacy Notice.