He was seen largely as an eccentric, extremist misfit; a figure of ridicule rather than a serious politician.

Slowly, though, she becomes a figure of ridicule and realises that, to conform, she must find a husband.

She became a figure of ridicule among her neighbors as she carried out her service to the poor of the region.

Because of this, he was a major figure of ridicule at the institute where he was taught.

She achieves the difficult task of making a figure of ridicule into a person who evokes sympathy from the listener.