antic

1 of 2

noun

an·​tic ˈan-tik 

1

: an attention-drawing, often wildly playful or funny act or action : caper

—usually plural

childish antics

2

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

antic

2 of 2

adjective

1

a

: characterized by clownish extravagance or absurdity

an antic farce

b

: whimsically lighthearted : frolicsome

Gelbart's intelligence is antic and playful.

—Lloyd Rose

2

archaic : grotesque, bizarre

antically

ˈan-ti-k(ə-)lē 

adverb

Did you know?

When referring to one of the grotesques—the fanciful, often fantastical mural paintings found in the ruins of ancient Roman buildings—the Italian descendants of the ancient Romans used the word antico, meaning “ancient thing.” In 16th-century English, antico (itself a descendant of the Latin word for “ancient,” antiquus) became antic, and got applied as both a noun and an adjective in contexts related to decorative art—sculptures, painting, architecture, etc.—inspired by the original grotesques. Antic shifted in meaning over time, eventually gaining the senses we use more often today: antic as an adjective describes the absurd or whimsical, and antic as a usually plural noun refers to attention-grabbing, playful or funny acts and actions.

Synonyms

Noun

• prank
• trick

Adjective

• humorous
• comedic
• funny
• comical
• comic
• amusing
• hysteric
• ridiculous
• hysterical

Examples of antic in a Sentence

Noun

we'll have no more of your antics, so just settle down

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

The weekly antics involved Jeannie, a 2,000-year-old spirit in corporeal (and blonde!) form, who is freed from her bottle by an errant NASA astronaut played by Larry Hagman. —Jordan Hoffman, EW.com, 5 Aug. 2025

Their amateur-hour antics quickly land them in over their heads when a meth lab heist gone wrong sets off a crime war that actual law enforcement, led by Mina (Marin Ireland), a veteran agent who barely survives a bullet to the throat during the robbery, is eager to crack down. —Brande Victorian, HollywoodReporter, 5 Aug. 2025

Adjective

Some musicians from that antic time who spread into whole other areas of music, notably dance pop artist Moby, got their start in Connecticut punk bands. —Christopher Arnott, Hartford Courant, 27 July 2025

Daniel Pemberton’s lively musical score adds to the antic fun. —Frank Scheck, HollywoodReporter, 24 July 2025

Word History

Etymology

Noun and Adjective

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

First Known Use

Noun

1564, in the meaning defined at sense 2

Adjective

1536, in the meaning defined at sense 2

Rhymes for antic

• frantic
• atlantic
• gigantic
• pedantic
• romantic
• semantic
• vedantic
• transatlantic
• unromantic

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Kids Definition

antic

1 of 2 noun

an·​tic ˈant-ik 

: a wildly playful or funny act or action

antic

2 of 2 adjective

: wildly playful : frolicsome