as in clown
a comically dressed performer (as at a circus) who entertains with playful tricks and ridiculous behavior
the children at the birthday party giggled at the buffoon's silly tricks
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Recent Examples of buffoon
The character with which I have been identified, that of the raucous buffoon, is merely a studied portrayal.
—
Bill Wyman, Vulture, 28 Feb. 2025
Tedros is part mastermind, part buffoon, part cult leader, and all sleaze.
—Carrie Battan, The New Yorker, 5 Feb. 2025
Both films are about the preposterous beauty standards foisted upon women in our modern culture, yet both films seem determined to make these same women suffer, while portraying men as mostly bumbling buffoons whose chief infractions are wandering eyes.
—Erik Kain, Forbes, 18 Jan. 2025
Of course, Veep’s sycophants, buffoons, and backstabbers bear little resemblance to the vanguard of our latest regime.
—Judy Berman, TIME, 20 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for buffoon
Bill Wyman, Vulture, 28 Feb. 2025
Tedros is part mastermind, part buffoon, part cult leader, and all sleaze.
—Carrie Battan, The New Yorker, 5 Feb. 2025
Both films are about the preposterous beauty standards foisted upon women in our modern culture, yet both films seem determined to make these same women suffer, while portraying men as mostly bumbling buffoons whose chief infractions are wandering eyes.
—Erik Kain, Forbes, 18 Jan. 2025
Of course, Veep’s sycophants, buffoons, and backstabbers bear little resemblance to the vanguard of our latest regime.
—Judy Berman, TIME, 20 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for buffoon
Recent Examples of Synonyms for buffoon
clown
Noun
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Matthew Davies, 41, was taken into custody on suspicion of assaulting a man with a glass bottle while dressed up as a clown on Oct. 31, 2018, according to a news release issued by the department.—
Vincent Moleski,
Sacbee.com,
8 May 2025
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In the ‘30s and ‘40s, there were all these clowns trying to sell things, and then there was Krinkles the Clown trying to sell cereal [in the ‘50s].—
Brian Davids,
HollywoodReporter,
8 May 2025
Cite this Entry
“Buffoon.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/buffoon. Accessed 23 May. 2025.
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