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
Janet W. Lee, NPR, 5 Mar. 2026
And, yeah, it’s run by unworthy—the clowns are the best one.
—David Frum, The Atlantic, 4 Mar. 2026
In front of him, idolatrous Republican lawmakers popped up and down to applaud like clowns in wind-up music boxes of old.
—Jackie Calmes, Mercury News, 27 Feb. 2026
An episodic framework, physical comedy, a small ensemble of actors who are all at home in their clowns and who will all, at some point, drop the mask to speak to us as themselves — for Ogawa, these are ways to bring effervescence and intimacy to the contemplation of insoluble, heavy things.
—Sara Holdren, Vulture, 26 Feb. 2026
Performances and stunts are delivered by international acrobats and clowns during music and light shows.
—Abby Hamblin, San Diego Union-Tribune, 25 Feb. 2026
Even if a plan is solid, clowns and trolls might try to take it down anyway.
—Magi Helena, Dallas Morning News, 25 Feb. 2026
Did you guys have any clowns or experts as advisors?
—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
Noun
How did clowns become a protest symbol?
—Janet W. Lee, NPR, 5 Mar. 2026
And, yeah, it’s run by unworthy—the clowns are the best one.
—David Frum, The Atlantic, 4 Mar. 2026
In front of him, idolatrous Republican lawmakers popped up and down to applaud like clowns in wind-up music boxes of old.
—Jackie Calmes, Mercury News, 27 Feb. 2026
An episodic framework, physical comedy, a small ensemble of actors who are all at home in their clowns and who will all, at some point, drop the mask to speak to us as themselves — for Ogawa, these are ways to bring effervescence and intimacy to the contemplation of insoluble, heavy things.
—Sara Holdren, Vulture, 26 Feb. 2026
Performances and stunts are delivered by international acrobats and clowns during music and light shows.
—Abby Hamblin, San Diego Union-Tribune, 25 Feb. 2026
Even if a plan is solid, clowns and trolls might try to take it down anyway.
—Magi Helena, Dallas Morning News, 25 Feb. 2026
Did you guys have any clowns or experts as advisors?
—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
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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And also, dogs would be used to flush out deer hiding in bushes or in steep terrain, to expose them to waiting sharpshooters.—
Steve Scauzillo,
Daily News,
9 Mar. 2026
-
Coyotes will attack small dogs, though attacks on medium and large dogs are uncommon, says Kohl.—
Arricca Elin SanSone,
Southern Living,
9 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
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
-
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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Featuring poets, comedians, authors, dramatists, chefs, and composers, the festival has drawn hundreds of publishers and thousands of writers to the Grand Palais over the past 30 years.—
Brittany Allen,
Literary Hub,
9 Mar. 2026
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The comedians are Hammed Animashaun, Ayoade Bamgboye, Larry Dean, Celeste Dring, George Fouracres, Ania Magliano, Annabel Marlow, Al Nash, Jack Shep, Emma Sidi, and Paddy Young.—
Jason P. Frank,
Vulture,
9 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
Smarmy jerks can get obscenely wealthy in this country just by managing other people’s money.—
Gilad Edelman,
The Atlantic,
7 Feb. 2026
-
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
-
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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Like other types of wildlife, such as raccoons, opossums, and skunks, coyotes love an easy meal and will quickly learn where to find one, says Owen.—
Arricca Elin SanSone,
Southern Living,
9 Mar. 2026
-
Owens has spotted coyotes, crayfish, snakes, bats, foxes, skunks and a wide array of butterflies and moths on her daily walks through the forest.—
Jenna Ebbers,
Kansas City Star,
6 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Clowns.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/clowns. Accessed 16 Mar. 2026.
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