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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
For years, humanoid robots appeared only occasionally—usually in the form of viral clips of the Boston Dynamics Atlas doing parkour or RoboCup humanoid league bloopers that served more as comic relief than serious news. Maya Cakmak, IEEE Spectrum, 3 Sep. 2025 Frangulis is also there to support her when the match doesn't go her way — and to offer a little comic relief. Maddie Garfinkle, People.com, 27 Aug. 2025 Because initially, the way it was written, there was some comic relief lines in there that were just excised in the moment. Michael Schneider, Variety, 16 Aug. 2025 But too often, Odenkirk is stuck in a no-man’s land between real action hero and comic relief without a punchline. Mark Kennedy, Boston Herald, 14 Aug. 2025 See All Example Sentences for comic relief

Word History

First Known Use

1783, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of comic relief was in 1783

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Cite this Entry

“Comic relief.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/comic%20relief. Accessed 11 Sep. 2025.

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