1
as in harlequins
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 bastards
a person whose behavior is offensive to others
you should stay away from that clown
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of clowns
Georg Szalai, HollywoodReporter, 16 Feb. 2026
Deep cherry red, black, and white come together to create a whimsical world of dice, cards, sad clowns, and a ticking pocketwatch.
—Samantha Brash, InStyle, 8 Feb. 2026
These clowns don't even have the courage of their pathetic White supremacist convictions.
—Bill Goodykoontz, AZCentral.com, 6 Feb. 2026
The results will show young women who look an awful lot like circus clowns, with faces hidden under layers of masks, gels, serums, and even face tape.
—Jana Pollack, Parents, 31 Jan. 2026
Wild and kitschy shows followed with opening fetes dedicated to colorful subjects including Andy Warhol, circus clowns, and Canadian television creators and puppeteers Sid and Marty Krofft.
—Lina Lecaro, Los Angeles Times, 28 Jan. 2026
Performers, clowns and managers talk about the risks, egos and family atmosphere at Cirque, as shots of death-defying stunts play.
—Jesse Whittock, Deadline, 28 Jan. 2026
There are other quirky attractions here, too, like the Clown Motel, where horror enthusiasts can sleep among a collection of more than 6,500 clowns.
—Cailey Rizzo, Travel + Leisure, 21 Jan. 2026
Your play is about your experience as a young child traveling through different countries with your mother, taking up street performing as clowns to make money.
—Lisa Deaderick, San Diego Union-Tribune, 17 Jan. 2026
Noun
That was so, so, so touching, going to a real hospital with the clowns.
—Georg Szalai, HollywoodReporter, 16 Feb. 2026
Deep cherry red, black, and white come together to create a whimsical world of dice, cards, sad clowns, and a ticking pocketwatch.
—Samantha Brash, InStyle, 8 Feb. 2026
These clowns don't even have the courage of their pathetic White supremacist convictions.
—Bill Goodykoontz, AZCentral.com, 6 Feb. 2026
The results will show young women who look an awful lot like circus clowns, with faces hidden under layers of masks, gels, serums, and even face tape.
—Jana Pollack, Parents, 31 Jan. 2026
Wild and kitschy shows followed with opening fetes dedicated to colorful subjects including Andy Warhol, circus clowns, and Canadian television creators and puppeteers Sid and Marty Krofft.
—Lina Lecaro, Los Angeles Times, 28 Jan. 2026
Performers, clowns and managers talk about the risks, egos and family atmosphere at Cirque, as shots of death-defying stunts play.
—Jesse Whittock, Deadline, 28 Jan. 2026
There are other quirky attractions here, too, like the Clown Motel, where horror enthusiasts can sleep among a collection of more than 6,500 clowns.
—Cailey Rizzo, Travel + Leisure, 21 Jan. 2026
Your play is about your experience as a young child traveling through different countries with your mother, taking up street performing as clowns to make money.
—Lisa Deaderick, San Diego Union-Tribune, 17 Jan. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for clowns
Noun
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The two buffoons shave her head, chain her in the basement of a messy remote home and then accuse her of being an alien.—
Randy Myers,
Mercury News,
22 Oct. 2025
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But times have changed, and this team of buffoons is forced to grapple with changing industry ethics and sensationalist journalism in its transition, all while Ron faces an identity crisis that challenges his bravado, his massive ego.—
Travis Bean,
Forbes.com,
22 Aug. 2025
Noun
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The introduction of rats, dogs, cats and stoats, as well as hunting by people and destruction of native forest habitats, drove species of the country’s flourishing flightless birds — the kakapo among them — to near or complete extinction.—
Charlotte Graham-McLay,
Los Angeles Times,
24 Feb. 2026
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Before moving to the two-story structure’s exterior stairs, SWAT officers encountered two barking dogs.—
Chase Rogers,
Dallas Morning News,
23 Feb. 2026
Verb
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How to Prune Viburnum Use sharp hand pruners for smaller cuts up to the diameter of a pencil, and loppers or a pruning saw for larger cuts.—
Luke Miller,
Better Homes & Gardens,
7 Feb. 2026
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Options laid out in an Interior Department study of new operating rules absent a seven-state solution envision Lower Basin cuts up to twice what the Southwestern states have suggested.—
Brandon Loomis,
AZCentral.com,
31 Jan. 2026
Noun
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Meanwhile, Australian format Class Clowns sees a group of comedians return to the classroom for lessons that test competitive spirit, quick thinking, teamwork, creativity and nerve.—
Jesse Whittock,
Deadline,
22 Feb. 2026
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Trump is no fan of Colbert and has targeted comedians before.—
Seth Ashley,
The Conversation,
22 Feb. 2026
Noun
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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
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Moreover, where most clients are great, some are jerks.—
Kathy Kristof,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
12 Jan. 2026
Verb
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More importantly, this origin story of a movie and a movement apes the joie de moviemaking and the jazzy looseness of the original to an absolutely amazing degree, replicating an off-the-cuff feeling that’s more than a second-hand buzz.—
David Fear,
Rolling Stone,
31 Oct. 2025
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There are high columns crawling with ivy, nearly 12 acres of rolling lawns, teensy windows with teensy shutters, and a diminutive pool house that apes a fairy-tale cottage.—
Adriane Quinlan,
Curbed,
16 Sep. 2025
Noun
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Students are required to bring two full decks of cards including the jokers.—
Kris Slugg,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
27 Jan. 2026
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The 166-piece set includes 36 dot, bam, and crack tiles, 12 dragons, 16 winds, 16 flowers, 10 jokers, and four blank spare tiles made from melamine.—
Maggie Horton,
PEOPLE,
8 Jan. 2026
Noun
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The Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment has recorded 38 winter cases over the last five years, with the vast majority found in skunks.—
Meg Wingerter,
Denver Post,
18 Feb. 2026
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In addition, there’s the risk of secondary toxicity if a mole is eaten by a bird of prey or other predator including foxes and skunks.—
Arricca Elin SanSone,
Southern Living,
15 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Clowns.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/clowns. Accessed 25 Feb. 2026.
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