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
Erik Kain, Forbes.com, 29 May 2026
The four paintings are Joan Miró’s Composition (1953), Maurice Utrillo’s Maison de rendez-vous de chasse de Henri IV, rue Saint-Vincent, Montmartre (1934), Balthus’s Etude pour femme couchée (1948), and Pablo Picasso’s L’Ecuyere et les clowns (1961).
—Daniel Cassady, ARTnews.com, 6 May 2026
Once completed, the $5 million acquisition will ensure the theater has a permanent home, a place where skateboarding clowns and leek-haired onions can continue to frolic and dance for decades to come.
—Todd Martens, Los Angeles Times, 13 Apr. 2026
Plot details are being kept under wraps, though the film has been described as a four-quadrant coming-of-age comedy set in the world of funny and evil clowns.
—Matt Grobar, Deadline, 7 Apr. 2026
From ringmasters and lions to clowns and mimes, everyone went all out with their party attire.
—Ashlyn Robinette, PEOPLE, 6 Apr. 2026
When Feld Entertainment unveiled a new edition of the circus with much fanfare in 2023, the only animal in it was a mechanical robot dog and while there was some comedy, traditional circus clowns were not a part of it.
—Christopher Arnott, Hartford Courant, 5 Apr. 2026
Fashion has long taken inspiration from the clowns, as my colleague Laird Borrelli-Persson noted.
—Hannah Jackson, Vogue, 1 Apr. 2026
Performances and stunts are delivered by international acrobats and clowns during music and light shows.
—Abby Hamblin, San Diego Union-Tribune, 18 Mar. 2026
Noun
Grotesque sea hags, killer clowns, demonic self-help books and more plague the town and its mayor, Tom Loftis (Matthew Rhys).
—Erik Kain, Forbes.com, 29 May 2026
The four paintings are Joan Miró’s Composition (1953), Maurice Utrillo’s Maison de rendez-vous de chasse de Henri IV, rue Saint-Vincent, Montmartre (1934), Balthus’s Etude pour femme couchée (1948), and Pablo Picasso’s L’Ecuyere et les clowns (1961).
—Daniel Cassady, ARTnews.com, 6 May 2026
Once completed, the $5 million acquisition will ensure the theater has a permanent home, a place where skateboarding clowns and leek-haired onions can continue to frolic and dance for decades to come.
—Todd Martens, Los Angeles Times, 13 Apr. 2026
Plot details are being kept under wraps, though the film has been described as a four-quadrant coming-of-age comedy set in the world of funny and evil clowns.
—Matt Grobar, Deadline, 7 Apr. 2026
From ringmasters and lions to clowns and mimes, everyone went all out with their party attire.
—Ashlyn Robinette, PEOPLE, 6 Apr. 2026
When Feld Entertainment unveiled a new edition of the circus with much fanfare in 2023, the only animal in it was a mechanical robot dog and while there was some comedy, traditional circus clowns were not a part of it.
—Christopher Arnott, Hartford Courant, 5 Apr. 2026
Fashion has long taken inspiration from the clowns, as my colleague Laird Borrelli-Persson noted.
—Hannah Jackson, Vogue, 1 Apr. 2026
Performances and stunts are delivered by international acrobats and clowns during music and light shows.
—Abby Hamblin, San Diego Union-Tribune, 18 Mar. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for clowns
Verb
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Ortiz navigated past 17 other horses around the final turn and made a hard charge down the stretch.—
Stephen Whyno,
The Orlando Sentinel,
3 May 2026
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Ortiz navigated past 17 other horses around the final turn and made a hard charge down the stretch.—
Stephen Whyno,
Chicago Tribune,
2 May 2026
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 Art of the Pet package really rolls out the red carpet for dogs at this dog-only property.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
2 June 2026
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Thousands of mail carriers across the United States were attacked by dogs in 2025, with Los Angeles topping the list for most attacks, according to a new report from the United States Postal Service.—
Saman Shafiq,
USA Today,
1 June 2026
Verb
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The new congressional map in Virginia effectively cuts up the state’s 11 House districts to give Democrats an advantage in 10 of them.—
Joseph Konig,
PEOPLE,
22 Apr. 2026
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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
Noun
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They were joined by a range of other actors, comedians, musicians and more for the variety show and auction on Saturday.—
Dominick Williams
May 31,
Kansas City Star,
31 May 2026
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The two comedians became family last year when Murphy's son Eric and Lawrence's daughter Jasmin tied the knot.—
Derek Lawrence,
Entertainment Weekly,
29 May 2026
Noun
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To relitigate the matter on behalf of Musk only served to underline the conviction that all of these jerks deserved one another.—
Gideon Lewis-Kraus,
New Yorker,
20 May 2026
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Here, witches are real — and so are jerks.—
Amy Nicholson,
Los Angeles Times,
30 Apr. 2026
Verb
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But if getting Andy back in the Runway fold feels a lot like getting her into it in the first film, that feeling will only persist, as the sequel apes the original feature nearly beat for beat, with some small swaps here and there.—
Kate Erbland,
IndieWire,
29 Apr. 2026
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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
Noun
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Like any public hearing, there were a few jokers who had some strange outbursts, but the majority of the over a dozen speakers weren’t satisfied with Gower’s presentation and used their times to ask questions of the owners as to what has taken so long with this project.—
Brian Welk,
IndieWire,
12 May 2026
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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
Cite this Entry
“Clowns.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/clowns. Accessed 9 Jun. 2026.
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