comic relief
noun
: a relief from the emotional tension especially of a drama that is provided by the interposition of a comic episode or element
Examples of comic relief in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Her young character mainly provides comic relief amid tense scenes and is likely to emerge unscathed from any violence set to occur in the show's fictional setting, Hawkins, Indiana.
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Melissa Fleur Afshar, MSNBC Newsweek, 7 Nov. 2025
Asano starred in Doyle and Ratanaruang’s previous two features, and plays a supporting role here as a pretentious artist who provides the film with much of its comic relief.
—Katie Rife, IndieWire, 5 Nov. 2025
Played for comic relief, he is baffled by this son of his who attends college and, more perplexing yet, is suddenly obsessed with Italy and cycling.
—Literary Hub, 4 Nov. 2025
The rest of the expansive cast can be hard to keep track of, but there is plenty of comic relief from all the darker drama.
—Kelly Lawler, USA Today, 30 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for comic relief
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Melissa Fleur Afshar, MSNBC Newsweek, 7 Nov. 2025
Asano starred in Doyle and Ratanaruang’s previous two features, and plays a supporting role here as a pretentious artist who provides the film with much of its comic relief.
—Katie Rife, IndieWire, 5 Nov. 2025
Played for comic relief, he is baffled by this son of his who attends college and, more perplexing yet, is suddenly obsessed with Italy and cycling.
—Literary Hub, 4 Nov. 2025
The rest of the expansive cast can be hard to keep track of, but there is plenty of comic relief from all the darker drama.
—Kelly Lawler, USA Today, 30 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for comic relief
Cite this Entry
“Comic relief.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/comic%20relief. Accessed 13 Nov. 2025.
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