Synonyms of humorous

humorous

adjective

ˈhyüm-rəs 

1

as in funny

causing or intended to cause laughter

the humorous moments in an otherwise somber affair

"most humorous costume" went to the girl dressed as Little Bo Peep

Synonyms & Similar Words

• funny
• comedic
• amusing
• comical
• comic
• entertaining
• hysterical
• ridiculous
• hilarious
• witty
• playful
• droll
• farcical
• uproarious
• ludicrous
• riotous
• humoristic
• laughable
• screaming
• antic
• chucklesome
• sidesplitting
• risible
• killing
• zany
• flippant
• slapstick
• merry
• clownish
• jocular
• whimsical
• facetious
• wry
• laughing
• waggish
• jokey
• diverting
• flip
• jovial
• slapsticky
• jolly
• mirthful
• smart
• campy
• jocose
• knockabout
• rich
• gleeful
• smart-alecky
• priceless
• smart-aleck
• pert
• mad
• jocund
• snickery
• blithesome

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• serious
• lame
• humorless
• earnest
• solemn
• somber
• severe
• poignant
• tragic
• unfunny
• sober
• unamusing
• grave
• staid
• sedate
• unsmiling
• weighty
• unhumorous
• moving
• touching
• unhysterical
• sad
• uncomic
• affecting
• no-nonsense
• sorrowful
• mournful
• tearful
• sobersided
• woeful
• lachrymose

2

as in witty

given to or marked by mature intelligent humor

the movie's a humorous look at love and marriage

Synonyms & Similar Words

• witty
• clever
• funny
• jocular
• playful
• facetious
• amusing
• joking
• smart
• comical
• entertaining
• comic
• mischievous
• cerebral
• ridiculous
• hysterical
• frivolous
• droll
• intellectual
• farcical
• jovial
• teasing
• highbrow
• uproarious
• ludicrous
• laughing
• riotous
• laughable
• mirthful
• whimsical
• merry
• antic
• rollicking
• jolly
• flippant
• jocose
• risible
• sidesplitting
• jesting
• bantering
• waggish
• prankish
• screaming
• joshing
• highbrowed
• sparkling
• flip
• sunny
• diverting
• jocund
• scintillating
• smart-alecky
• smart-aleck
• pert

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• stupid
• lowbrow
• lame
• witless
• corny
• brainless
• hackneyed
• serious
• humorless
• unfunny
• somber
• solemn
• earnest
• hackney
• sober
• grave
• serious-minded
• unamusing
• doleful
• plaintive
• tearful
• sorry
• dolorous
• woeful
• lachrymose
• uncomic

Synonym Chooser

How is the word humorous distinct from other similar adjectives?

Some common synonyms of humorous are facetious, jocose, jocular, and witty. While all these words mean "provoking or intended to provoke laughter," humorous applies broadly to anything that evokes usually genial laughter and may contrast with witty in suggesting whimsicality or eccentricity.

humorous anecdotes

In what contexts can facetious take the place of humorous?

While the synonyms facetious and humorous are close in meaning, facetious stresses a desire to produce laughter and may be derogatory in implying dubious or ill-timed attempts at wit or humor.

facetious comments

How are the words jocose and facetious related as synonyms of humorous?

Jocose is somewhat less derogatory than facetious in suggesting habitual waggishness or playfulness.

jocose proposals

When might jocular be a better fit than humorous?

The synonyms jocular and humorous are sometimes interchangeable, but jocular implies a usually habitual fondness for jesting and joking.

a jocular fellow

When is witty a more appropriate choice than humorous?

Although the words witty and humorous have much in common, witty suggests cleverness and quickness of mind.

a witty remark

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of humorous

In the early 1990s, Stuart Smalley's humorous affirmations on SNL highlighted the power of self-coaching, a concept supported by psychologist Ethan Kross, who suggests that addressing oneself in the second person can alleviate anxiety and improve problem-solving by fostering a broader perspective. —Big Think, 27 Mar. 2026

The unexpected may have a humorous twist. —Dave Duffey, Outdoor Life, 26 Mar. 2026

Sometimes darkly humorous, sometimes strangely heartbreaking, this immersive storytelling experience is Edgar Allan Poe for the modern age; a heart-to-bleeding-heart with madmen, murderers and monsters all dying to tell their story. —William Earl, Variety, 25 Mar. 2026

The stage version has a talking DeLorean with its own humorous personality. —Rick Mauch, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 25 Mar. 2026