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
William Earl, Variety, 13 Aug. 2025
Fans are clowning back at their favorite pop star's showmanship.
—Nicole Fallert, USA Today, 12 Aug. 2025
Brady MacDonald, Oc Register, 25 Sep. 2025
That powerhouse voice is almost at odds with Warren’s easygoing, class clown personality.
—Heather Bushman, IndyStar, 24 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for clown
Noun
Taylor Swift used her latest moment behind a mic to clown football fans who complain when the camera cuts to her during games.
—William Earl, Variety, 13 Aug. 2025
Fans are clowning back at their favorite pop star's showmanship.
—Nicole Fallert, USA Today, 12 Aug. 2025
Verb
Stiltwalking clown Connor Breen shook my hand and welcomed me to the team.
—Brady MacDonald, Oc Register, 25 Sep. 2025
That powerhouse voice is almost at odds with Warren’s easygoing, class clown personality.
—Heather Bushman, IndyStar, 24 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for clown
Recent Examples of Synonyms for clown
Noun
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Learn more about management options and which food plants are most susceptible to this insect in our harlequin bug on vegetables web page.—
Miri Talabac,
Baltimore Sun,
16 Apr. 2025
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Pity the poor actor who has to co-star opposite a 150-pound harlequin Great Dane.—
Peter Rainer,
Christian Science Monitor,
3 Apr. 2025
Verb
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Your readers deserve better than inflammatory rhetoric that obscures real human suffering masquerading as journalism.—
Letters to the Editor,
Oc Register,
14 Sep. 2025
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Following the charges, the Barnetts shared their side of the story: The couple alleged that Natalia was an adult masquerading as a child.—
Lynsey Eidell,
PEOPLE,
12 Sep. 2025
Verb
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Authorities believe it was cut up and sold, AP reported.—
Andrea Margolis,
FOXNews.com,
1 Oct. 2025
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They also aren’t burdened with making sure any of their shots match, since in essence any take can be cut up into a master, close-ups, two-shots, or whatever else Cameron decides.—
Jim Hemphill,
IndieWire,
1 Oct. 2025
Noun
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Best of The Bee: FBI’s Kash Patel blasts Adam Schiff as a ‘political buffoon’ via David Lightman California Legislature took aim at speeding up home building.—
Nicole Nixon,
Sacbee.com,
17 Sep. 2025
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The lunatic buffoon took a nap between boos at the US Open.—
Jordan King,
MSNBC Newsweek,
9 Sep. 2025
Noun
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Saddled with an uninteresting jerk half the time and a muzzled non-entity the other half, there’s only a handful of moments in the first six episodes where Powell’s star power shines through.—
Ben Travers,
IndieWire,
29 Sep. 2025
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For a taste of the Caribbean, head to Kingston Kitchen at the Village Inn, where chef Shawn Fearon serves the flavors of his native Jamaica—oxtail, jerk chicken, ackee and saltfish, curried goat, and the best whitefish sandwich on the island.—
Christine Chitnis,
Vogue,
24 Sep. 2025
Verb
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The Beck-Page Yardbirds appear in that film, miming to the song at a rock club in a performance that culminates with Beck smashing his guitar.—
Jem Aswad,
Variety,
2 Oct. 2025
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Who’s decided that there will be no tree on this country road and that all props — carrots, bags and baskets, whip — will be mimed in thin air?—
Sara Holdren,
Vulture,
29 Sep. 2025
Verb
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Running or horsing around with sparklers can also cause injuries and burns when users trip and fall.—
Justin Laube,
EverydayHealth.com,
2 July 2025
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Heath Ryan, who represented Australia in dressage at the 2008 Olympics, can be seen in the video – which the rider said is about two years old – hitting a horse around 40 times.—
Matias Grez,
CNN Money,
13 June 2025
Noun
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Global organization Human Rights Watch accused the festival of diverting attention away from allegations of the government’s severe repression of free speech and criticized comedians for performing on the behest of an oppressive regime.—
Anthony Robledo,
USA Today,
4 Oct. 2025
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The comedian and podcast host performed a stand-up set at the Beacon Theater in New York on Saturday, and attendees reported that a large chunk of the audience walked out during an apparently tumultuous set.—
Ethan Shanfeld,
Variety,
3 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Clown.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/clown. Accessed 9 Oct. 2025.
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