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
Kieran Press-Reynolds, Pitchfork, 27 Mar. 2026
Christopher Kosakowski, United States, 2025 A circus clown celebrating his birthday alone receives a mysterious gift box harboring an antique zoetrope that spins his world into mayhem.
—William Earl, Variety, 25 Mar. 2026
Arkansas Online, 28 Nov. 2025
Welcome to Derry, a prequel series from the producers of 2017's IT and 2019's IT Chapter 2 that will again feature Bill Skarsgård as the dancing clown.
—Randall Colburn, Entertainment Weekly, 23 Nov. 2025
See All Example Sentences for clown
Noun
Three years have passed since the stadium-sized clown show of the duo’s last record, 10,000 gecs, and Brady’s been feverishly cooking up unlikely collaborations and solo material.
—Kieran Press-Reynolds, Pitchfork, 27 Mar. 2026
Christopher Kosakowski, United States, 2025 A circus clown celebrating his birthday alone receives a mysterious gift box harboring an antique zoetrope that spins his world into mayhem.
—William Earl, Variety, 25 Mar. 2026
Verb
The parade, which started on Manhattan's Upper West Side and closed at the iconic Macy's Herald Square flagship store on 34th Street, included dozens of balloons, floats, clown groups and marching bands.
—Arkansas Online, 28 Nov. 2025
Welcome to Derry, a prequel series from the producers of 2017's IT and 2019's IT Chapter 2 that will again feature Bill Skarsgård as the dancing clown.
—Randall Colburn, Entertainment Weekly, 23 Nov. 2025
See All Example Sentences for clown
Recent Examples of Synonyms for clown
Noun
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The spill hit 1,300 miles of coastline, leading to the deaths of about 900 bald eagles, 300 seals, 1,000 harlequin ducks, 2,800 sea otters and 250,000 seabirds, according to the conservation group Oceana.—
Arizona Republic,
AZCentral.com,
24 Mar. 2026
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If the Brits are anything to go by, feather boas and harlequin jumpsuits are out, and French-girl flats are in.—
Alice Newbold,
Vogue,
28 Feb. 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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In the photo, Hat Rack is seen nestled within the weblike Sculpture for Traveling (1918), a net of rubber shower caps cut up and glued together that Duchamp took on a trip to Buenos Aires.—
Howard Halle,
ARTnews.com,
10 Apr. 2026
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The premiere episode will be cut up into 21 short segments, each about three minutes long, going live on Sunday morning on the video platform and remaining available for six weeks.—
Dade Hayes,
Deadline,
10 Apr. 2026
Noun
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Playing alongside Clarence Muse, who portrays a tenant farmer, Fetchit was cast as the clichéd buffoon, lazy and happy-go-lucky.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
25 Mar. 2026
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So the Dolphins haven’t totally escaped their buffoon-like past with Ross at the helm.—
Chris Perkins,
Sun Sentinel,
17 Feb. 2026
Noun
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Dear Jay Norvell, try not to be a complete @#$&%# jerk.—
Sean Keeler,
Denver Post,
5 Apr. 2026
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Dishes like jerk chicken and rice and beans cooked in coconut milk reflect the region’s deep Jamaican and British colonial influences that are distinctive from other parts of Costa Rica.—
Meghan Palmer,
Condé Nast Traveler,
29 Mar. 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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Bevel was horsing around with the Reverend James Orange and Andy Young in the courtyard under King's balcony, according to Orange.—
Gail Sheehy,
Vanity Fair,
20 Feb. 2026
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But Andrew continued to live at the home and was often seen riding his horse around Windsor Great Park and photographed waving to crowds.—
Martha Ross,
Mercury News,
12 Feb. 2026
Noun
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The 66-year-old comedian tells PEOPLE that performing with the late actress on Whose Line Is It Anyway?—
Meredith Wilshere,
PEOPLE,
5 Apr. 2026
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Bamford is a stand-up beloved by other performers, and her show features no small number of comedians in cameo roles.—
Andrew Walsh,
Entertainment Weekly,
5 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Clown.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/clown. Accessed 12 Apr. 2026.
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