1
as in harlequin
a comically dressed performer (as at a circus) who entertains with playful tricks and ridiculous behavior
a clown wearing big floppy shoes and a red wig
Synonyms & Similar Words
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2
as in bastard
a person whose behavior is offensive to others
you should stay away from that clown
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
1
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of clown
Christopher Arnott, Hartford Courant, 5 Apr. 2026
In Nuremberg,Göring is closer to a sad clown than to a monster.
—Alice Kaplan, The New York Review of Books, 4 Apr. 2026
Brian Truitt, USA Today, 9 Mar. 2026
Totally down to clown with the judges.
—Jason P. Frank, Vulture, 31 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for clown
Noun
Among the issues were a generational shift in how audiences reacted to animal acts and heavily made up clowns.
—Christopher Arnott, Hartford Courant, 5 Apr. 2026
In Nuremberg,Göring is closer to a sad clown than to a monster.
—Alice Kaplan, The New York Review of Books, 4 Apr. 2026
Verb
Phoenix dons makeup and transforms, taking a disturbed disaster of a stand-up comedian down the dark and dangerous path to being a killer clown.
—Brian Truitt, USA Today, 9 Mar. 2026
Totally down to clown with the judges.
—Jason P. Frank, Vulture, 31 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for clown
Recent Examples of Synonyms for clown
Noun
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For brassicas, watch for cabbage worms, flea beetles, and harlequin bugs.—
Anthony Reardon,
Kansas City Star,
20 Apr. 2026
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Man Ray painted a harlequin with a candlelit lantern for a head in 1939, taking direct inspiration from Schiaparelli’s Harlequin coat from her Modern Comedy collection, launched in October 1938.—
Eliza Goodpasture,
ARTnews.com,
15 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Most guys can get by without an aftershave, no shortage of which are fragrance conduits masquerading as moisturizers.—
Justin Fenner,
Robb Report,
11 Mar. 2026
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Even the biggest indie acts of the last 15 years or so tend to be solo singer-songwriters masquerading as bands, but Brooklyn’s Geese, the buzziest rock band in years, are a total exception.—
Brian Hiatt,
Rolling Stone,
8 Mar. 2026
Verb
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That map would have cut up Indianapolis into four new districts, securing a Republican edge.—
Nicole Fallert,
USA Today,
6 May 2026
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In the carousel of photos, McGillivray is seen cutting up food and raising it to Hogan's husband Steven Oleksy's mouth.—
Colson Thayer,
PEOPLE,
5 May 2026
Noun
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Jerry is a buffoon whom Reggie embarrassed years ago on the field, and Reggie’s used to his hatred.—
Roxana Hadadi,
Vulture,
14 Apr. 2026
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He is looked upon as a bloviating buffoon, not to be believed or taken seriously.—
Voice of the People,
New York Daily News,
11 Apr. 2026
Noun
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Here, witches are real — and so are jerks.—
Amy Nicholson,
Los Angeles Times,
30 Apr. 2026
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The passengers include the requisite obnoxious jerk, Dan (Angus Sampson), already throwing his weight around and breaking no-smoking rules at LAX.—
David Rooney,
HollywoodReporter,
28 Apr. 2026
Verb
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In a scene from the video that became local lore, Johann Gudenus, the former vice mayor of Vienna, mimed a pistol with his fingers while discussing untraceable donations to the FPÖ.—
Simon Akam,
Vanity Fair,
2 Apr. 2026
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Panahi mimed cradling a reptile the size of a kitten.—
H. C. Wilentz,
New Yorker,
2 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Ortiz navigated past 17 other horses around the final turn and made a hard charge down the stretch.—
Stephen Whyno,
The Orlando Sentinel,
3 May 2026
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Ortiz navigated past 17 other horses around the final turn and made a hard charge down the stretch.—
Stephen Whyno,
Chicago Tribune,
2 May 2026
Noun
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Lady Bunny, the drag queen comedian whose legacy extends back to the early 1980s, carries an eternal summer vibe due to her founding of the historic Wigstock Festival, a drag celebration which happened every year from 1985 to 2005.—
Christopher Arnott,
Hartford Courant,
2 May 2026
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Spirit became a favorite punchline among comedians.—
Leslie Josephs,
CNBC,
2 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Clown.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/clown. Accessed 10 May. 2026.
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