buffoonery

noun

(ˌ)bə-ˈfü-nə-rē How to pronounce buffoonery (audio)
Definition of buffoonerynext
as in tomfoolery
wildly playful or mischievous behavior their madcap buffoonery turned the duo into the nation's hottest comedy act

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Example Sentences

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.
Recent Examples of buffoonery Still, there's a remarkable level of buffoonery in his analysis. — Bobby Burack Outkick, FOXNews.com, 4 Aug. 2026 The show, with its interest in corporate buffoonery, doesn’t quite manage to hand-wave away the queasy implications. — Inkoo Kang, New Yorker, 27 Mar. 2026 Receivers have cratered seasons with me-over-we buffoonery. — Troy Renck, Denver Post, 19 Mar. 2026 His comic material, drawn mainly from perceptive observations of everyday life, might not be broad enough buffoonery for the movies. — CBS News, 19 Mar. 2026 See All Example Sentences for buffoonery
Recent Examples of Synonyms for buffoonery
  1. tomfoolery
  2. clowning
  3. joking
  4. clownery
  5. horseplay
  6. foolery
  7. slapstick
  8. roughhousing
Noun
  • After the film’s theatrical release on June 26, the decades-long saga of pranks and tomfoolery is finally coming to an end.
    — Isabelle Farina, Variety, 9 Sep. 2026
  • New assistant coach Alice Chilton is a blatant remodeling of Roy Kent — a brusque ex-soccer player who’s reluctant to engage with Ted’s tomfoolery or personal prodding — but Tanya Reynolds’ performance is equal turns wounded and witty.
    — Ben Travers, IndieWire, 5 Aug. 2026
Definition of tomfoolery
Noun
  • On paper, the script didn’t seem that funny, and the looseness of it all — the clowning, the lack of a traditional plot structure — seemed kind of slapdash.
    — Victor Garber, Vulture, 17 Sep. 2026
  • After all, as observed in a recent article in New York magazine about clowning, stupidity is powerful resistance.
    — New York Times, New York Times, 24 June 2026
Definition of clowning
Noun
  • As the audience applauded, Stewart launched into his joking eulogy.
    — Shania Russell, Entertainment Weekly, 29 Oct. 2026
  • Russell was mentioned in that speech, but in a joking way, playing off of how frequent Oscars director Glenn Weiss, who won for his role helming the 2018 Academy Awards telecast, had used his speech to propose to his then-girlfriend.
    — Hilary Lewis, HollywoodReporter, 9 Oct. 2026
Definition of joking
Noun
  • Allow Yahya Abdul-Mateen II to clarify his remarks about Aquaman being the work of clowns with… some clownery.
    — Jessica Wang, EW.com, 1 Sep. 2022
  • Chronicle Books In the world of clownery, tradition has long dictated that a clown must never steal another clown’s look.
    — Constance Grady, Vox, 20 Aug. 2018
Definition of clownery
Noun
  • Six months ago, Thomas drowned during rough horseplay in a pool.
    — Tasha Robinson, Vulture, 14 Oct. 2026
  • The video depicts a group of students engaged in horseplay, progressing to two 15-year-olds tussling and laughing, according to the suit.
    — Eric Peterson, Chicago Tribune, 23 Sep. 2026
Definition of horseplay
Noun
  • Jeffrey Jones played Principal Ed Rooney, Ferris' nemesis, who is dead set on catching Bueller in his foolery, but ultimately fails at his mission.
    — Emma Urdangen, PEOPLE, 14 June 2026
  • One way to stop this proliferation of deep-fake nudity is to prosecute the offenders and make examples that such foolery has consequences.
    — Charles Selle, Chicago Tribune, 20 Apr. 2026
Definition of foolery
Noun
  • The Three Stooges, of course, were the beloved comedy troupe active from the early 1920s through 1970 who starred in nearly 200 film shorts that featured their slapstick, cartoonishly violent humor.
    — Greg Evans, Deadline, 7 Nov. 2026
  • Performance styles can range from slapstick to dark introspective drama.
    — Christopher Arnott, Hartford Courant, 28 Oct. 2026
Definition of slapstick
Noun
  • As expected, Aussies brought the roughhousing.
    — Sean Gregory, Time, 20 June 2026
  • The boys challenge each other to throw heavy objects, which leads to intense roughhousing.
    — Carlos Aguilar, Variety, 27 Jan. 2026
Definition of roughhousing

Browse Nearby Words

buffoon
buffoonery
buffoonish
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Cite this Entry

“Buffoonery.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/buffoonery. Accessed 13 Nov. 2026.

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