clownish
adjective
clown·ish
ˈklau̇-nish 
: resembling or befitting a clown (as in ignorance and lack of sophistication)
clownishly
adverb
clownishness
noun
Synonyms
Examples of clownish in a Sentence
the clownish antics of some of the teenagers at the wedding reception
Recent Examples on the Web
The kind that found its zenith in Todd Phillips’ 2019 take on Batman’s clownish foe.
—
Manuel Betancourt, Los Angeles Times, 12 Apr. 2024
Officials there tried to insulate themselves from what many saw as a clownish scheme unbound from law and evidence.
—Maggie Haberman, New York Times, 8 Mar. 2024
The movie feels very of-the-moment (almost frustratingly so) in its critique of religious hypocrisy and backward gender dynamics, and yet, one longs for a little more nuance in the clownish way these bigots and blowhards are depicted.
—Peter Debruge, Variety, 6 Jan. 2024
The vulgar literary philosopher role is just another side of black-identity farce — now epitomized by the clownish movies Precious and Get Out.
—Armond White, National Review, 15 Dec. 2023
As Touchstone, a clownish companion to Rosalind and her loyal friend Celia (the charming Naomi Ngebulana), Khoshkam racks up laugh after laugh.
—Thomas Floyd, Washington Post, 8 Dec. 2023
On Thursday, after weeks spent in clownish limbo, House Republicans finally banded together and unanimously elected a speaker.
—Alex Shephard, The New Republic, 26 Oct. 2023
The PJs portrayed The Black Struggle as a clownish depiction of daily life in a housing project.
—WIRED, 28 Sep. 2023
The 5th Circuit judges combine their clownish approach to the law with a clownish confusion over the federal rules of procedure they are bound to apply.
—Michael Hiltzik, Los Angeles Times, 27 Sep. 2023
Manuel Betancourt, Los Angeles Times, 12 Apr. 2024
Officials there tried to insulate themselves from what many saw as a clownish scheme unbound from law and evidence.
—Maggie Haberman, New York Times, 8 Mar. 2024
The movie feels very of-the-moment (almost frustratingly so) in its critique of religious hypocrisy and backward gender dynamics, and yet, one longs for a little more nuance in the clownish way these bigots and blowhards are depicted.
—Peter Debruge, Variety, 6 Jan. 2024
The vulgar literary philosopher role is just another side of black-identity farce — now epitomized by the clownish movies Precious and Get Out.
—Armond White, National Review, 15 Dec. 2023
As Touchstone, a clownish companion to Rosalind and her loyal friend Celia (the charming Naomi Ngebulana), Khoshkam racks up laugh after laugh.
—Thomas Floyd, Washington Post, 8 Dec. 2023
On Thursday, after weeks spent in clownish limbo, House Republicans finally banded together and unanimously elected a speaker.
—Alex Shephard, The New Republic, 26 Oct. 2023
The PJs portrayed The Black Struggle as a clownish depiction of daily life in a housing project.
—WIRED, 28 Sep. 2023
The 5th Circuit judges combine their clownish approach to the law with a clownish confusion over the federal rules of procedure they are bound to apply.
—Michael Hiltzik, Los Angeles Times, 27 Sep. 2023
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'clownish.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Articles Related to clownish
Dictionary Entries Near clownish
Cite this Entry
“Clownish.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/clownish. Accessed 24 Apr. 2024.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share