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
Dylan Maxwell could easily have been an unsympathetic buffoon, but there’s a distinct love for (and in most cases, an appreciation of) the people behind the teen archetypes on display.
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Wilson Chapman, IndieWire, 20 May 2025
Problematic to be sure, but also a very in-character move for an ignorant buffoon.
—Ben Rosenstock, Time, 6 May 2025
Read: Comedy’s most erudite buffoon Mulaney has many advantages at Netflix that his conventional-television peers don’t, however.
—David Sims, The Atlantic, 7 Apr. 2025
Once infused with the diabolical spirit, the guide is transformed into a buffoon, complete with a harlequin outfit—a mad joker and a dancing fool who does a little jig to the sound of a jazz trio.
—Richard Brody, The New Yorker, 11 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for buffoon
Wilson Chapman, IndieWire, 20 May 2025
Problematic to be sure, but also a very in-character move for an ignorant buffoon.
—Ben Rosenstock, Time, 6 May 2025
Read: Comedy’s most erudite buffoon Mulaney has many advantages at Netflix that his conventional-television peers don’t, however.
—David Sims, The Atlantic, 7 Apr. 2025
Once infused with the diabolical spirit, the guide is transformed into a buffoon, complete with a harlequin outfit—a mad joker and a dancing fool who does a little jig to the sound of a jazz trio.
—Richard Brody, The New Yorker, 11 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for buffoon
Recent Examples of Synonyms for buffoon
clown
Noun
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The sheriff threatens to arrest Morticia on account of aiding and abetting a murderer, but Gomez points out that these clowns (the cops) abandoned Nevermore to protect Normies at Pilgrim World.—
Jessica M. Goldstein,
Vulture,
3 Sep. 2025
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While the film wasn't a hit with critics or audiences, Gaga nonetheless had some eye-popping looks on the press tour, sporting bold red hair and clown-like attire to evoke the comic chaos of her character.—
EW.com,
EW.com,
31 Aug. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Buffoon.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/buffoon. Accessed 10 Sep. 2025.
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