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
David Frum, The Atlantic, 4 Feb. 2026
Hayman recalls one regular who always comes dressed as a scary-looking clown.
—Brayden Garcia, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 3 Feb. 2026
Anya M. Galli Robertson, The Conversation, 21 Nov. 2025
This was clown stuff in a city where, per a 2024 report, someone earning the average salary ($88,647) could afford only 5 percent of rentals on the market after factoring in upfront costs such as broker’s fees and security deposits.
—Clio Chang, Curbed, 5 Nov. 2025
See All Example Sentences for clown
Noun
Canadians get rid of this clown Trudeau.
—David Frum, The Atlantic, 4 Feb. 2026
Hayman recalls one regular who always comes dressed as a scary-looking clown.
—Brayden Garcia, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 3 Feb. 2026
Verb
Carnivalesque tactics and clown costumes have been popular responses to police repression at anti-globalization protests.
—Anya M. Galli Robertson, The Conversation, 21 Nov. 2025
This was clown stuff in a city where, per a 2024 report, someone earning the average salary ($88,647) could afford only 5 percent of rentals on the market after factoring in upfront costs such as broker’s fees and security deposits.
—Clio Chang, Curbed, 5 Nov. 2025
See All Example Sentences for clown
Recent Examples of Synonyms for clown
Noun
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Rather than the usual crisscross pattern, Holmes’ sweater features solid block diamonds in bold colors for a harlequin look that is honestly a breath of fresh air.—
Elizabeth Logan,
Glamour,
27 Jan. 2026
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Like an ex-NatGeo marine videographer, who can film guests drift diving through walls of harlequin sweetlips, as if the spirit of Jacques Cousteau was puppeteering their wetsuits.—
Tristan Rutherford,
Robb Report,
26 Jan. 2026
Verb
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On the flip side, Lang warns that there are some serious conditions that can masquerade as menopause symptoms.—
Jocelyn Solis-Moreira,
Flow Space,
11 Feb. 2026
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Desert landscapes and fun cowboy-esque decor dotted the walls and surfaces; a queen-size Murphy bed masquerading as a barn door provided ample sleeping options.—
Asonta Benetti,
Condé Nast Traveler,
30 Jan. 2026
Verb
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Her voice is intimate and resonant, whether cut up into indistinct background flurries or pushed to the front of the mix.—
Alex Robert Ross,
Pitchfork,
13 Feb. 2026
-
Such a potato is cut up into sections, each having a sprout or two.—
David Beaulieu,
The Spruce,
9 Feb. 2026
Noun
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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
-
The movie is like a version of Waiting for Guffman (1996) in which the Christopher Guest character was not a buffoon but an earnest striver with grit and (significant) talent.—
Peter Tonguette,
The Washington Examiner,
9 Jan. 2026
Noun
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Tony's Jamaican Food Curry goat, oxtail and jerk chicken are a few of the traditional Jamaican specialties served at this friendly Pflugerville restaurant and East Austin food truck.—
Ana Gutierrez,
Austin American Statesman,
10 Feb. 2026
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Smarmy jerks can get obscenely wealthy in this country just by managing other people’s money.—
Gilad Edelman,
The Atlantic,
7 Feb. 2026
Verb
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Elena, a skating coach and choreographer, was on the edge of her seat throughout Naumov’s program, quietly miming his movements in the arena’s second tier above the rink, willing Naumov on with every piece of choreography.—
Alice Park,
Time,
11 Feb. 2026
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The clip features four male models — who look nothing like Catmen Anthony D’Amato, Mike Montali, Brian Dunne, and Don DiLego — miming their way through a performance of the song in Orson Welles-era black & white.—
Joseph Hudak,
Rolling Stone,
21 Jan. 2026
Verb
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In April 2020, Iglesias shared a video of him horsing around with Lucy and Nicholas as the pair attempted to climb on his back for a ride.—
Andrea Wurzburger,
PEOPLE,
19 Jan. 2026
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At this point in time, my little AI company, a lean and mean group of passionate believers, is horsing around fine-tuning the product, living on a couple of angel investments, where a 10X return on few million dollars is very satisfying, not only to the angel, but also to the employees.—
Neil Senturia,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
6 Oct. 2025
Noun
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Cummings, a comedian and actress, has been on the show several times over the years.—
Melina Khan,
USA Today,
13 Feb. 2026
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Actor-comedian Anthony Anderson coached the losing team, led by former 7-foot-6 NBA player Tacko Fall with 20 points.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
13 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Clown.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/clown. Accessed 22 Feb. 2026.
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