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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
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Recent Examples of clowns
Sun Sentinel Editorial Board, Sun Sentinel, 12 Jan. 2026
Brewer depicts the world of music impersonators with a fair amount of affection, like the rodeo clowns of late 20th-century America.
—Peter Tonguette, The Washington Examiner, 9 Jan. 2026
Cirque du Soleil is known for its shows featuring acrobats, athletes and clowns – all doing spectacular feats.
—Brian Steinberg, Variety, 8 Jan. 2026
Six Flags Magic Mountain will fill the summer, fall and winter seasons in 2026 with an entertaining mix of Superman and Harley Quinn, Oktoberfest beers and Bavarian pretzels, killer clowns and blood curdling screams and Santa Claus and faux snow.
—Brady MacDonald, Oc Register, 31 Dec. 2025
There are articles about Frank Sinatra and Michael Jordan, royals and rock stars, cowboys and clowns.
—The New Yorker, New Yorker, 18 Dec. 2025
This slasher more than delivers on the promise of its title as multiple clowns wielding a panoply of weapons slaughter pretty young people.
—Louis Peitzman, Vulture, 10 Dec. 2025
In addition to sporting events and music, the rodeo will also consist of family friendly activities like mutton bustin', clowns and rodeo queens who will compete for prize money.
—Melonee Hurt, Nashville Tennessean, 5 Dec. 2025
So Porter is now the guy the State Police have supposedly doing a deep dive on the clowns, grifters and assorted gender-bending jokers that Maura Healey hands six-figure hack sinecures to — judicial nominees, college presidents, the heads of the veterans’ homes, etc.
—Howie Carr, Boston Herald, 29 Nov. 2025
Noun
These mercenary-force ICE clowns are traitors to the country and the Constitution.
—Sun Sentinel Editorial Board, Sun Sentinel, 12 Jan. 2026
Brewer depicts the world of music impersonators with a fair amount of affection, like the rodeo clowns of late 20th-century America.
—Peter Tonguette, The Washington Examiner, 9 Jan. 2026
Cirque du Soleil is known for its shows featuring acrobats, athletes and clowns – all doing spectacular feats.
—Brian Steinberg, Variety, 8 Jan. 2026
Six Flags Magic Mountain will fill the summer, fall and winter seasons in 2026 with an entertaining mix of Superman and Harley Quinn, Oktoberfest beers and Bavarian pretzels, killer clowns and blood curdling screams and Santa Claus and faux snow.
—Brady MacDonald, Oc Register, 31 Dec. 2025
There are articles about Frank Sinatra and Michael Jordan, royals and rock stars, cowboys and clowns.
—The New Yorker, New Yorker, 18 Dec. 2025
This slasher more than delivers on the promise of its title as multiple clowns wielding a panoply of weapons slaughter pretty young people.
—Louis Peitzman, Vulture, 10 Dec. 2025
In addition to sporting events and music, the rodeo will also consist of family friendly activities like mutton bustin', clowns and rodeo queens who will compete for prize money.
—Melonee Hurt, Nashville Tennessean, 5 Dec. 2025
So Porter is now the guy the State Police have supposedly doing a deep dive on the clowns, grifters and assorted gender-bending jokers that Maura Healey hands six-figure hack sinecures to — judicial nominees, college presidents, the heads of the veterans’ homes, etc.
—Howie Carr, Boston Herald, 29 Nov. 2025
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
-
For the fourth year in a row, Petco Love brought adoptable dogs to the awards.—
Kelli Bender,
PEOPLE,
13 Jan. 2026
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Children and dogs are always free.—
Ut Community Press,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
13 Jan. 2026
Noun
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As the podcast continued to gain popularity, clips of the episodes began going viral on social media, and Rapaport began inviting celebrity guests, including actors, NBA players and comedians.—
Lori A Bashian,
FOXNews.com,
11 Jan. 2026
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Gethard’s argument contrasted the current moment to where comedy was 15 to even five years ago, a period generally considered the Second Comedy Boom in which the internet offered many comedians opportunities to get noticed, build active fan bases, get jobs, and make money.—
Chris Gethard,
Vulture,
9 Jan. 2026
Noun
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Instead, the Engel-Jackson family is more run-of-the-mill awful — a recognizable pack of self-serving jerks more focused on the appearance of cheer than any real kindness.—
Alison Foreman,
IndieWire,
12 Dec. 2025
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That rich people sure can be easily manipulable jerks?—
Angie Han,
HollywoodReporter,
14 Nov. 2025
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
-
So Porter is now the guy the State Police have supposedly doing a deep dive on the clowns, grifters and assorted gender-bending jokers that Maura Healey hands six-figure hack sinecures to — judicial nominees, college presidents, the heads of the veterans’ homes, etc.—
Howie Carr,
Boston Herald,
29 Nov. 2025
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These jokers in Indianapolis acting the fool.—
Chris Sims,
IndyStar,
27 Aug. 2025
Noun
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Thiols are responsible for the distinctive aromas of skunk spray and ripe durian; they’re also added to natural gas to provide a detectable rotten-egg smell at even trace levels.—
Nicola Twilley,
New Yorker,
5 Jan. 2026
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Some owls will hunt the wildlife that raids our garbage cans, like skunks and opossums.—
Brandee Gruener,
Southern Living,
2 Jan. 2026
Noun
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Traitors is about the gullible and the skeptical working together to sieve the fraudulent from the truthful, an amalgamated nightmare of village idiots locking themselves in the stocks and pelting each other with rotten fruit.—
Raven Smith,
Vogue,
9 Jan. 2026
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And speaking of the idiots who run college football, the sport had one-fourth of its playoff coaches accepting other jobs before the playoffs even began, and has the transfer portal opening before the playoffs even come to an end.—
Mike Bianchi,
The Orlando Sentinel,
8 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Clowns.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/clowns. Accessed 15 Jan. 2026.
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