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
Christopher Rudolph, PEOPLE, 15 Dec. 2025
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
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
Welcome to Derry season 2, including whether Skarsgård will be back to clown it up as Pennywise.
—Christopher Rudolph, PEOPLE, 15 Dec. 2025
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
See All Example Sentences for clown
Recent Examples of Synonyms for clown
Noun
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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
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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
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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The new congressional map in Virginia effectively cuts up the state’s 11 House districts to give Democrats an advantage in 10 of them.—
Joseph Konig,
PEOPLE,
22 Apr. 2026
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The Gates Foundation plans to cut up to 500 jobs, or about 20% of its staff, in the coming years as part of a long-term restructuring, as the foundation also undergoes an external review of its ties to the late financier Jeffrey Epstein.—
Brittany Miller,
FOXNews.com,
21 Apr. 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
-
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
-
The jerk chicken is rubbed in a sweet honey glaze.—
Jenn Harris,
Los Angeles Times,
20 Apr. 2026
-
This was just the beginning of us young anarchists becoming judgmental jerks.—
Joseph Hudak,
Rolling Stone,
7 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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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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Virtually every black comedian, and Bill Burr, was on hand to pay tribute to Eddie Murphy on Saturday night as he was awarded the 51st AFI Life Achievement Award at the Dolby Theater in Los Angeles.—
John Ross,
Vanity Fair,
19 Apr. 2026
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Now Kocak is a writer, podcaster (Private Parts Unknown), and comedian who divides her time between Austin, Texas and Los Angeles.—
Mary Ann Grossmann,
Twin Cities,
19 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Clown.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/clown. Accessed 26 Apr. 2026.
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