1
as in comedy
humorous entertainment
an actor whose roles range from slapstick to serious drama
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2
as in hijinks
wildly playful or mischievous behavior
a lowbrow comedy that relies heavily on slapstick for its laughs
Synonyms & Similar Words
as in zany
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of slapstick
James Poniewozik, New York Times, 11 Apr. 2025
There's a lot of delightful slapstick stunt work in Project A, reminiscent of the work of Buster Keaton and Harold Lloyd, but apparently Chan never saw either man's films before developing his signature style.
—ArsTechnica, 7 Apr. 2025
Kilmer demonstrated an incredible range, bouncing between slapstick zaniness, high drama, breathless action, and steely determination.
—Randall Colburn, EW.com, 2 Apr. 2025
Throughout, Snook hams for laughs, turning Wilde’s witticisms and epigrams into slapstick.
—Christian Lewis, Variety, 28 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for slapstick
Noun
Every so often, the E.R. is visited by rats, little symbols of disrepair and instigators of slapstick freak-outs.
—James Poniewozik, New York Times, 11 Apr. 2025
There's a lot of delightful slapstick stunt work in Project A, reminiscent of the work of Buster Keaton and Harold Lloyd, but apparently Chan never saw either man's films before developing his signature style.
—ArsTechnica, 7 Apr. 2025
Kilmer demonstrated an incredible range, bouncing between slapstick zaniness, high drama, breathless action, and steely determination.
—Randall Colburn, EW.com, 2 Apr. 2025
Throughout, Snook hams for laughs, turning Wilde’s witticisms and epigrams into slapstick.
—Christian Lewis, Variety, 28 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for slapstick
Recent Examples of Synonyms for slapstick
Noun
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Mac routinely stole scenes in the comedies of the '90s, such as Friday (1995) and The Player's Club (1998).—
Randall Colburn,
EW.com,
3 May 2025
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The highly successful holiday comedy premiered in 2022 and returned with a second installment, Haul Out the Holly: Lit Up, a year later.—
Anika Ljung,
People.com,
3 May 2025
Adjective
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Some of us, maybe like Bill Clinton, might wonder what zany anecdote Johnny Miller might have to say about Bill and Hillary during the Little Rock years.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
26 Apr. 2025
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Doke plays Eyeball, a mischievous, zany artist who sees the world in her own idiosyncratic way and often lightens a heavy mood with a joke.—
Rosy Cordero,
Deadline,
22 Apr. 2025
Noun
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Don't be afraid to use drama, humor and the element of surprise to tell the stories that matter most to readers.—
Caren Bohan,
USA Today,
3 May 2025
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But that’s exactly how modern protest sounds in Turkey, where humor and art are some of the only ways to cope with the socio-political environment.—
Eda Uysen,
Rolling Stone,
3 May 2025
Adjective
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In the mountains of Papua New Guinea, researchers encountered a clownish creature perched on a log in a fern meadow, basking in the sun.—
Lauren Liebhaber,
Miami Herald,
22 Apr. 2025
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The suit also paints a clownish portrait of the entrepreneur, portraying him as pompous, shameless, and untrustworthy.—
Rachel Corbett,
Vulture,
16 Apr. 2025
Noun
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Even with Ted Lasso on hiatus, Apple TV+ continues to be a presence in this category; no doubt, voters loved seeing Hollywood execs (and egomaniacal stars) get skewered on the streamer's movie-industry satire, The Studio.—
Kristen Baldwin,
EW.com,
23 Apr. 2025
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Like a good martini, the novel blends the zesty gin of satire with vermouthy fruitiness and lemon twists of sharp observation.—
Rob Kyff,
Hartford Courant,
19 Apr. 2025
Adjective
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Rannells, who reprises his role as Stephanie's friend Darren, made headlines when promoting Another Simple Favor with an amusing dodge to a question hinting at Lively's legal dramas.—
Randall Colburn,
EW.com,
1 May 2025
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Braun cannot say the same for his amusing role in an instant classic Nuggets moment.—
Bennett Durando,
Denver Post,
29 Apr. 2025
Noun
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His is a sort of erudite buffoonery that consistently tap-dances between clever, self-aware, and patently stupid.—
David Sims,
The Atlantic,
22 Mar. 2025
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There is, in fact, real stagecraft along with the buffoonery.—
Susan B. Glasser,
The New Yorker,
20 Mar. 2025
Adjective
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Photo : Jason Wells/Golden Gate Creative The courtyard is ideal for alfresco lounging and entertaining.—
Wendy Bowman,
Robb Report,
2 May 2025
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As chaotic and entertaining as the transfer portal is, keeping star-caliber pieces in college is vital to building a truly elite team.—
Jim Root,
New York Times,
2 May 2025
Cite this Entry
“Slapstick.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/slapstick. Accessed 11 May. 2025.
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