buffo

noun

ˈbü-(ˌ)fō How to pronounce buffo (audio)
Definition of buffonext
as in clown
a comically dressed performer (as at a circus) who entertains with playful tricks and ridiculous behavior in the comic opera, the buffo shared his entrance aria with a grimacing mime

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Example Sentences

Recent Examples of Synonyms for buffo
  1. clown
  2. harlequin
Noun
  • Jean pays tribute to the oversized trousers worn by rodeo clowns.
    — Angela Velasquez, Footwear News, 8 Oct. 2026
  • The gasoline shortage has become such a feature of daily life that even clowns at Moscow’s circus have cracked jokes about it.
    — Ivan Nechepurenko, New York Times, 4 Oct. 2026
Definition of clown
Noun
  • The Cézanne is Arlequin, 1888-90, from a set of four harlequin paintings and the only one not held by a museum.
    — News Desk, Artforum, 30 Sep. 2026
  • Colorado potato beetles target potato plants, while harlequin beetles do damage to brassica family plants like kale, cauliflower, cabbage, and broccoli.
    — Alexandra Jones, The Spruce, 3 June 2026
Definition of harlequin
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.

Browse Nearby Words

buffing
buffo
buffoon
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Cite this Entry

“Buffo.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/buffo. Accessed 11 Oct. 2026.

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