as in clowns
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 buffoons
The two buffoons shave her head, chain her in the basement of a messy remote home and then accuse her of being an alien.
—
Randy Myers, Mercury News, 22 Oct. 2025
But times have changed, and this team of buffoons is forced to grapple with changing industry ethics and sensationalist journalism in its transition, all while Ron faces an identity crisis that challenges his bravado, his massive ego.
—Travis Bean, Forbes.com, 22 Aug. 2025
Perhaps the system isn’t really corrupt, it’s just run by buffoons.
—G. Allen Johnson, San Francisco Chronicle, 30 May 2025
Randy Myers, Mercury News, 22 Oct. 2025
But times have changed, and this team of buffoons is forced to grapple with changing industry ethics and sensationalist journalism in its transition, all while Ron faces an identity crisis that challenges his bravado, his massive ego.
—Travis Bean, Forbes.com, 22 Aug. 2025
Perhaps the system isn’t really corrupt, it’s just run by buffoons.
—G. Allen Johnson, San Francisco Chronicle, 30 May 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for buffoons
clowns
Noun
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Performances and stunts are delivered by international acrobats and clowns during music and light shows.—
Abby Hamblin,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
18 Mar. 2026
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How did clowns become a protest symbol?—
Janet W. Lee,
NPR,
5 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Buffoons.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/buffoons. Accessed 30 Mar. 2026.
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