antic

¹an·tic

noun \ˈan-tik\

Definition of ANTIC

1

: an attention-drawing often wildly playful or funny act or action : caper <childish antics>

2

archaic : a performer of a grotesque or ludicrous part : buffoon

Examples of ANTIC

1. <we'll have no more of your antics, so just settle down>

Origin of ANTIC

Italian antico ancient thing or person, from antico ancient, from Latin antiquus — more at antique

First Known Use: 1529

Related to ANTIC

Synonyms

prank, caper, capriccio, dido, escapade, frolic, gag, jest, knavery, monkeyshine(s), practical joke, rag [chiefly British], roguery, shavie [Scottish], shine(s), trick, waggery

Related Words

skylarking; adventure, experience, game, lark, time; high jinks (also hijinks), horseplay, play, roughhousing, rowdyism; shenanigan(s), tomfoolery; joking, kidding, teasing; gambit, hoax, maneuver, ploy; deed, feat, mission, performance, stunt; caprice, conceit, fancy, vagary, whim, whimsy (also whimsey); deceit, deception, delusion, fooling, fraud, hanky-panky, hoodwinking, ruse, sham, stratagem, subterfuge, trickery, wile

Other Performing Arts Terms

diva, dramaturgy, loge, prestidigitation, proscenium, supernumerary, zany

Rhymes with ANTIC

frantic, mantic

²antic

adjective

Definition of ANTIC

1

archaic : grotesque, bizarre

2

a : characterized by clownish extravagance or absurdity

b : whimsically gay : frolicsome

— an·ti·cal·ly \-ti-k(ə-)lē\ adverb

Examples of ANTIC

1. <antic shenanigans that made me nearly fall over with laughter>
2. <an antic group of kids at summer camp>

First Known Use of ANTIC

1548

Related to ANTIC

Synonyms

funny, chucklesome, comedic, comic, comical, droll, farcical, hilarious, humoristic, humorous, hysterical (also hysteric), killing, laughable, ludicrous, ridiculous, riotous, risible, screaming, sidesplitting, uproarious

Antonyms

humorless, lame, unamusing, uncomic, unfunny, unhumorous, unhysterical

Related Words

amusing, diverting, entertaining; clownish, knockabout, slapstick, slapsticky, zany; facetious, flip, flippant, pert, smart, smart-aleck, smart-alecky, snickery; jocular, playful, waggish; campy, jokey (also joky); priceless, rich, whimsical, witty, wry; blithesome, gleeful, jocose, jocund, jolly, jovial, laughing, mad, merry, mirthful

Near Antonyms

earnest, grave, no-nonsense, sedate, serious, severe, sober, sobersided, solemn, somber (or sombre), staid, unsmiling, weighty; affecting, moving, poignant, touching, tragic (also tragical); lachrymose, mournful, sad, sorrowful, tearful, woeful