Comedian wanting way to escape ridicule (4)
I believe the answer is:
jeer
'ridicule' is the definition.
(jeer is a kind of ridicule)
I cannot understand how the rest of the clue works.
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for jeer that I've seen before include "Henry ---, Richard II's enemy, successor" , "Taunt" , "Mock publicly" , "Catcall" , "Laugh at with derision" .)