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1

droll

play

adjective \ ˈdrōl \

Definition of droll

:having a humorous, whimsical, or odd quality

his dignified presence decorated our droll little quarters
—Gwendolyn Brooks

—

drollness

noun

—

drolly

play \ˈdrō(l)-lē\ adverb

See droll defined for English-language learners

See droll defined for kids

Examples of droll in a Sentence

a droll little man with a peculiar sense of humor
a book of droll stories

Recent Examples of droll from the Web

Otherwise, what’s not to like about spending some time with a couple of bright and droll dining companions?

— walter addiego, kansascity, "‘The Trip to Spain’ has fun while sounding a more serious note," 23 Aug. 2017
In Washington, where 100,000 gathered, a sea of bobbing placards displayed slogans ranging from the droll (‘Science is Real.

— simon parkin, Bloomberg.com, "Brexit Is Quietly Strangling Science," 8 Aug. 2017
On the subject of those big boy pants, a droll sidebar to fashion history was provided this week by Michael Maccari, the creative director at Perry Ellis.

— guy trebay, New York Times, "Real New York Shows From Raf Simons and Todd Snyder," 12 July 2017
Reviewing an early Georges Feydeau comedy, a droll critic predicted that this master farceur would go mad and end his days in an asylum.

— mike fischer, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, "American Players Theatre turns to farce with 'A Flea in Her Ear'," 1 July 2017
It’s filled with the droll British wit of series creator Howard Overman’s previous science fiction show Misfits.

— lincoln michel, GQ, "Crazyhead Is the Darker, British-er Version of Buffy Streaming on Netflix," 24 June 2017
The first is a woefully distended scene of hermetic fantasy that matters only for its payoff: a steampunk wall panel does weird things to Agent Cooper (and, in the conceit’s one droll touch, leaves him, or a version of him, shoeless).

— richard brody, The New Yorker, "“Twin Peaks: The Return” Episodes 3 and 4: David Lynch Is Back," 30 May 2017
But studio fare is nowhere in sight on this year’s lineup, which instead favors more unorthodox European films such as alien romantic comedy How to Talk to Girls at Parties and Ruben Östlund’s droll morality play The Square.

— patrick ryan, USA TODAY, "Cannes Film Festival 2017: Who won, who lost in the first week?," 21 May 2017
A wiry figure with a droll smile and a pencil mustache dyed to match his dark, combed-back hair greeted Captain Finney in the downtown Broadway offices of the Department of Mental Hygiene, where Brussel served as assistant commissioner.

— michael cannell, Smithsonian, "Unmasking the Mad Bomber," 2 May 2017

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

Origin and Etymology of droll

French drôle, from drôle scamp, from Middle French drolle, from Middle Dutch, imp

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 1623

See Words from the same year

droll Synonyms

Synonyms

antic, chucklesome, comedic, comic, comical, funny, farcical, hilarious, humoristic, humorous, hysterical (also hysteric), killing, laughable, ludicrous, ridiculous, riotous, risible, screaming, sidesplitting, uproarious

Antonyms

humorless, lame, unamusing, uncomic, unfunny, unhumorous, unhysterical

Related Words

amusing, diverting, entertaining; clownish, knockabout, slapstick, slapsticky, zany; facetious, flip, flippant, pert, smart, smart-aleck, smart-alecky, snickery; jocular, playful, waggish; campy, jokey (also joky); priceless, rich, whimsical, witty, wry; blithesome, gleeful, jocose, jocund, jolly, jovial, laughing, mad, merry, mirthful

Near Antonyms

earnest, grave, no-nonsense, sedate, serious, severe, sober, sobersided, solemn, somber (or sombre), staid, unsmiling, weighty; affecting, moving, poignant, touching, tragic (also tragical); lachrymose, mournful, sad, sorrowful, tearful, woeful

2

droll

noun

Definition of droll

:an amusing person :jester, comedian

Examples of droll in a Sentence

the drolls of late-night TV had a field day with that senator's sexual shenanigans

Recent Examples of droll from the Web

Back then, free period called for dotting your hands with Crayola’s blue swirls and snowflake markers; now, Milk Makeup’s minimal star stamp provides a droll, upgraded version of that schoolyard beauty statement.

— jenna rennert, Vogue, "27 Back-to-School Beauty Products Inspired by Your ’90s Classroom Staples," 24 Aug. 2017
In a droll, three-page ruling issued Friday, Judge Steven Merryday denied the motion filed by an assistant U.S. attorney.

— tamara lush, Sun-Sentinel.com, "Judge quotes Star Trek, Wordsworth, Carly Simon in nixing man's request to view eclipse," 22 Aug. 2017
In a droll, three-page ruling issued Friday, Judge Steven Merryday denied the motion filed by an assistant U.S. attorney.

— tamara lush, Sun-Sentinel.com, "Judge quotes Star Trek, Wordsworth, Carly Simon in nixing man's request to view eclipse," 22 Aug. 2017
In a droll, three-page ruling issued Friday, Judge Steven Merryday denied the motion filed by an assistant U.S. attorney.

— tamara lush, The Seattle Times, "Judge denies witness chance to view eclipse," 21 Aug. 2017
Like her paintings, Madani is at once droll and punishingly serious.

— negar azimi, The New Yorker, "The Charming, Disgusting Paintings of Tala Madani," 28 Apr. 2017

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

Origin and Etymology of droll

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: circa 1645

See Words from the same year

droll Synonyms

Synonyms

card, comedian, comic, humorist, farceur, funnyman, gagger, gagman, gagster, jester, joker, jokester, wag, wit

Related Words

comedienne, entertainer; banterer, cutup, kidder, knockabout, practical joker, prankster, quipper, quipster, teaser, wisecracker; buffoon, clown, fool, harlequin, zany; caricaturist, lampooner, parodist, satirist

3

droll

verb

Definition of droll

intransitive verb

archaic

:to make fun :jest, sport

drolling a little upon the corporal
—Laurence Sterne

Origin and Etymology of droll

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 1654

See Words from the same year

DROLL Defined for English Language Learners

droll

play

adjective

Definition of droll for English Language Learners

: having an odd and amusing quality

DROLL Defined for Kids

droll

play

adjective \ ˈdrōl \

Definition of droll for Students

droller; drollest

:having an odd or amusing quality

a droll expression

Learn More about droll

See words that rhyme with droll Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for droll Spanish Central: Translation of droll Nglish: Translation of droll for Spanish speakers Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about droll

Seen and Heard

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play

of yeast or being unsettled or frivolous

BROWSE DICTIONARY

Drokpa

drôlerie

droll

drollery

drollingly

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Examples: droll in a Sentence