joke 1 of 2

noun

ˈjōk How to pronounce joke (audio)
Definition of jokenext
1
as in laugh
something said or done to cause laughter he was known for his hilarious jokes

Synonyms & Similar Words

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2
as in parody
a poor, insincere, or insulting imitation of something her rendition of the national anthem is a joke

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in fool
a person or thing that is made fun of having lost his looks and his voice years ago, these days he's just a show business joke and fodder for late-night comedy

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

joke

2 of 2

verb

1
as in to fun
to make jokes he was known for his ability to joke about his lack of anything resembling a social life

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2
as in to tease
to make fun of in a good-natured way oh, don't get offended, I was just joking you

Synonyms & Similar Words

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of joke
Noun
The joke comes as stock market dips and warnings about surging prices have characterized the days following Trump’s tariff announcement, which sets a 10 percent baseline tax on goods imported into the U.S. from nearly all foreign trading partners. — Dominick Mastrangelo, The Hill, 4 Apr. 2025 Johnson’s joke struck at a core truth of Chicago politics. — Jake Sheridan, Chicago Tribune, 4 Apr. 2025
Verb
But Corden followed up by joking about possible financial challenges facing some international winners due to Trump’s actions. — Martha Ross, Mercury News, 7 Apr. 2025 A day earlier, Realmuto had joked about something Roberts had said after the Dodgers opened the season 8-0. — Matt Gelb, New York Times, 5 Apr. 2025 See All Example Sentences for joke
Recent Examples of Synonyms for joke
  1. laugh
  2. parody
  3. fool
  4. tease
  5. caricature
  6. target
  7. kid
  8. giggle
Noun
  • In a bit role, Morgan McGhee delivers big laughs with her loopy take as a newscaster.
    — Frank Rizzo, Variety, 8 Apr. 2025
  • The Good, The Bad & The Rugby podcast co-host was spotted sharing a laugh with his daughter Mia and his niece Savannah Phillips on Christmas at Sandringham in December 2024, joining the royals for church on the holiday.
    — Janine Henni, People.com, 7 Apr. 2025
Definition of laugh
Noun
  • Imagination was key to the films that Hess made after Napoleon Dynamite: the soulful Nacho Libre, in which Jack Black as a novice monk and Lucha Libre fan gave a fully rounded characterization, and the ingenious fantasy-fiction parody Gentlemen Broncos.
    — Armond White, National Review, 16 Apr. 2025
  • Those include the parodies of commercials and public access programs that begin episodes, giving us introductions to Judaism and the French-Canadian mobsters and a particular brand of coffee in ways that, like so much in the series, feel fleetingly amusing rather than coherently realized.
    — Daniel Fienberg, HollywoodReporter, 15 Apr. 2025
Definition of parody
Noun
  • Unfortunately, building massive scale factories here in the US to replace overseas production would be a fool’s errand.
    — Robert C. Wolcott, Forbes.com, 8 Apr. 2025
  • Holding out hope for Hannah’s return, or Janine’s liberation, or… anything, really, by this point in the Hulu drama’s final run can feel like a fool’s errand.
    — Kimberly Roots, TVLine, 8 Apr. 2025
Definition of fool
Verb
  • Fans of the finger food, made with a tortilla-crumb breading, can look forward to having it year-round, as Taco Bell teased plans to make nuggets part of the permanent menu by 2026.
    — Tanasia Kenney, Kansas City Star, 17 Apr. 2025
  • The trailer also teases a subplot involving a pregnancy between Sue Storm and Reed Richards, possibly hinting at the birth of their son, Franklin Richards, a character with universe-altering powers in Marvel lore.
    — Thomas G. Moukawsher, MSNBC Newsweek, 17 Apr. 2025
Definition of tease
Noun
  • These caricatures are amusing, but nothing compared to when President Dutton finally has to strap up and blow away mercenaries like Rambo.
    — Jordan Hoffman, EW.com, 9 Apr. 2025
  • Pottery making, caricature illustrations, and other creative installations will also be available.
    — Ella Gonzales, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 7 Apr. 2025
Definition of caricature
Noun
  • Recently, however, green-card holders convicted of minor crimes many years ago who previously were not targets have been detained, and the Trump administration is seeking to deport them.
    — Albert Sun, New York Times, 9 Apr. 2025
  • The sturdy build quality ensures durability against small knocks and bumps, which is important for something built with children as its target market.
    — Tantse Walter, Space.com, 9 Apr. 2025
Definition of target
Verb
  • Huang may have been kidding, but Nvidia spent much of its event detailing just how much better its Blackwell chips are.
    — Kif Leswing, CNBC, 26 Mar. 2025
  • After a day on the slopes at Lost Trail, make your way to the tiny town of Jackson, which will make Philipsburg and Anaconda seem like large metropolitan areas (kidding, kinda).
    — Will McGough, Forbes.com, 26 Mar. 2025
Definition of kid
Noun
  • Princess Charlotte sticking her tongue out during a royal engagement and sending Princess Kate into a fit of giggles went newly viral on TikTok.
    — Gordon G. Chang, MSNBC Newsweek, 8 Apr. 2025
  • Other episodes induce giggles but don’t have the same punch and impact as those previously mentioned.
    — Aramide Tinubu, Variety, 27 Mar. 2025
Definition of giggle

Phrases Containing joke

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jointures
joke
joked
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Cite this Entry

“Joke.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/joke. Accessed 21 Apr. 2025.

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Nglish: Translation of joke for Spanish Speakers

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about joke

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