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
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
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
Noun
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
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
Recent Examples of Synonyms for clowns
Noun
-
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
-
The dogs [which carried the same genetic defect for LCA as humans] had the funny eye movements.—
Lauren J. Young,
Scientific American,
4 May 2026
-
Small dogs are welcome to stay with a €50 supplement.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
4 May 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
-
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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The comedians recapped the content creators' ongoing beef, which came to a head when Cooper called out Earle in a TikTok shared on April 13.—
Zoey Lyttle,
PEOPLE,
4 May 2026
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This evening, Netflix unfurls the third edition of Netflix Is a Joke Fest, its sprawling, citywide comedy showcase that in just four years has become one of the buzziest gatherings of comedians in the world.—
Matt Grobar,
Deadline,
4 May 2026
Noun
-
Here, witches are real — and so are jerks.—
Amy Nicholson,
Los Angeles Times,
30 Apr. 2026
-
This was just the beginning of us young anarchists becoming judgmental jerks.—
Joseph Hudak,
Rolling Stone,
7 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
-
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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Only about 30 percent of all nests evade their many predators, including skunks, opossums, raccoons, coyotes, snakes, and even domestic dogs and cats.—
Laura Baisas,
Popular Science,
29 Apr. 2026
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This invites not only skunks, but also other unwanted visitors such as mice, opossums, and raccoons, says Anderson.—
Arricca Elin SanSone,
Southern Living,
24 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Clowns.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/clowns. Accessed 5 May. 2026.
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