as in humorous
causing or intended to cause laughter
made a droll comment about the commencement speaker's penchant for clichés
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in comedian
a person (as a writer) noted for or specializing in humor
the drolls of late-night TV had a field day with that senator's sexual shenanigans
Synonyms & Similar Words
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of droll
Michael Barnes, Austin American Statesman, 25 Dec. 2025
As Thornton is otherwise largely silent onstage, what’s going on inside the actor’s head while Reeves and Winter share droll, existentialist banter?
—Ryan Lattanzio, IndieWire, 17 Dec. 2025
For several years, the droll poet has been quietly churning out robust yet unfussy folk-rock guitar songs that support the weight of his deep croon.
—Craig Jenkins, Vulture, 2 Dec. 2025
Vince Gilligan moved to Apple and returned to his X-Files roots for the sci-fi horror dramatic comedy Pluribus, which used its ultra-mysterious and yet ultra-familiar genre trappings for a droll meditation on the eternal clash between collective joy and individual grouchiness.
—Daniel Fienberg, HollywoodReporter, 17 Nov. 2025
See All Example Sentences for droll
Adjective
In his typical droll fashion, Kelley penned his own third-person biographical sketch to introduce what became a longtime column.
—Michael Barnes, Austin American Statesman, 25 Dec. 2025
As Thornton is otherwise largely silent onstage, what’s going on inside the actor’s head while Reeves and Winter share droll, existentialist banter?
—Ryan Lattanzio, IndieWire, 17 Dec. 2025
For several years, the droll poet has been quietly churning out robust yet unfussy folk-rock guitar songs that support the weight of his deep croon.
—Craig Jenkins, Vulture, 2 Dec. 2025
Vince Gilligan moved to Apple and returned to his X-Files roots for the sci-fi horror dramatic comedy Pluribus, which used its ultra-mysterious and yet ultra-familiar genre trappings for a droll meditation on the eternal clash between collective joy and individual grouchiness.
—Daniel Fienberg, HollywoodReporter, 17 Nov. 2025
See All Example Sentences for droll
Recent Examples of Synonyms for droll
Adjective
-
In a humorous Facebook post earlier this week, the South Fulton Police Department, based in Metro Atlanta, claimed people were calling them about the public spat.—
Taylor Ardrey,
USA Today,
26 Feb. 2026
-
Even though there are at least one hundred people on this floor, colorful cubicle walls, and plenty of humorous art (a mug shot of Bill Gates from his arrest in Albuquerque is a favorite), the room is disturbingly quiet.—
Sean Williams,
Harpers Magazine,
24 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
And with the release of Live at the Palace, there’s a clear part of Fleming that hopes to show other comedians a way to live with the reactions of online hordes, without letting the fear of them change their work.—
CT Jones,
Rolling Stone,
28 Feb. 2026
-
In 2023, the comedian and actor married creative executive Jennifer Herrera and adopted her young daughter, Cornelia.—
Eric Ducker,
Los Angeles Times,
27 Feb. 2026
Adjective
-
Varley’s elevation this season is a wonderful turn for Ashbourne, an icon of British film, TV, and theater who has long been one of Bridgerton’s most consistently comedic presences.—
Roxana Hadadi,
Vulture,
3 Mar. 2026
-
The clash unfolds with comedic innuendos as both models inadvertently start to flirt with the same man, Charlie, the owner of the location where the photoshoot for the brand takes place.—
Anthony D'Alessandro,
Deadline,
3 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
Driven out of the family mansion, mother and child relocate to the less auspicious Belleville, New Jersey — one of the film’s few genuinely funny touches — where Mary whiles away her days in the employ of the Bureau of Motor Vehicles.—
Peter Tonguette,
The Washington Examiner,
27 Feb. 2026
-
In what was an otherwise pretty gripping and funny first episode, Tribal Council was kind of a dud.—
Dalton Ross,
Entertainment Weekly,
26 Feb. 2026
Adjective
-
His conviction that birdwatching would be boffo box office in 2011 dud The Big Year also is chronicled, with amusing references to Tom Rothman, then running Fox and now heading Sony, and his unwavering antipathy toward the project.—
Dade Hayes,
Deadline,
25 Feb. 2026
-
And then there are memes, defined as an idea, behavior or style, an amusing or interesting item that spreads by imitation within a culture and often carries symbolic meaning.—
Reader Commentary,
Baltimore Sun,
20 Feb. 2026
Adjective
-
After a two-hour tale of comical deception, betrayal, emotional cruelty, insensitivity and obliviousness, the audience is expected to swallow a message of caring and community.—
Christopher Arnott,
Hartford Courant,
27 Feb. 2026
-
Olga Khazan tackles this challenge for herself with a determination that’s both comical and admirable.—
Gabrielle Bellot,
Literary Hub,
27 Feb. 2026
Adjective
-
However, in 1991, Friedmann, now twenty-two, robbed a comic-book store and then tried to steal trading cards from a Kroger supermarket.—
James Verini,
New Yorker,
2 Mar. 2026
-
O’Hara was one of the most celebrated comic actresses of her generation.—
Jodi Guglielmi,
Rolling Stone,
1 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
So far, the series has been excellent, serving the dual purpose of entertaining patrons with high-quality displays, while at the same time giving Coloradans an opportunity to see some examples of how millions of dollars in public arts funding are being channeled into acquisitions.—
Ray Mark Rinaldi,
Denver Post,
2 Mar. 2026
-
Townsend, who captured the ATX doubles title with partner Storm Hunter later in the day to the delight of her friend and Olympic sprint champion Gabby Thomas, made her first WTA semifinal and final, but has become one of the most entertaining doubles players on the planet.—
Cedric Golden,
Austin American Statesman,
2 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Droll.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/droll. Accessed 5 Mar. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
