buffoon

noun buf·foon \ (ˌ)bə-ˈfün \

Updated on: 19 Mar 2018

Definition of buffoon

1 : a ludicrous figure : clown

2 : a gross and usually ill-educated or stupid person

acting like a ridiculous buffoon

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buffoonish

play \-ˈfü-nish\ adjective

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Examples of buffoon in a Sentence

Stop acting like a buffoon.
the children at the birthday party giggled at the buffoon's silly tricks

Recent Examples of buffoon from the Web

There is nothing about trade with Canada that threatens national security, and claims to the contrary make Mr. Trump look like a buffoon.

— mary anastasia o’grady, WSJ, "Is Canada a National Security Risk?," 4 Mar. 2018
Wolff’s book paints Trump as a buffoon who doesn’t read, can’t settle on political priorities and is unable to manage a warring cast of advisers who spend their days squabbling and undermining each other and the president.

— josh dawsey, Washington Post, "Trump lawyer seeks to block insider book on White House," 4 Jan. 2018
Or the buffoon with an AR-15 loaded with a 100-round drum who last month walked around an Atlanta airport.

— kurt eichenwald, Newsweek, "Americans Don't Have the Right to Bear Just Any Arms," 16 July 2015
Maurizio Sarri has admitted that his Napoli team played 'like buffoons' in their Europa League last-32 first leg clash with RB Leipzig.

— SI.com, "Napoli Boss Sarri Expecting Better Europa League Display After 'Buffoon-Like' Leipzig Defeat," 22 Feb. 2018
But the long-term problem may not be Trump but us — both the people who put that buffoon in office and the people who can’t imagine ousting Trump two-and-a-half years from now unless America remains thoroughly entertained.

— will bunch, Philly.com, "Oprah 2020 mania proves the American presidency is badly broken | Will Bunch," 9 Jan. 2018
And while the choices may be grim, many still believe an incompetent buffoon is the better option.

— anna beahm, AL.com, "3 injured in train collision in Pickens County," 28 Dec. 2017
In the age where a vulgar buffoon like Trump is president, their cultural critique is more resonant than ever.

— jeet heer, New Republic, "Divorce Conservatism From the Republican Party," 20 Dec. 2017
Nine months ago, critics left and right were writing off Trump as an irrelevant buffoon without a clue of what to do in the White House.

— victor davis hanson, National Review, "Why Trump Should Consider a Post-Twitter Presidency," 14 Dec. 2017

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'buffoon.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.