1
as in witty
given to or marked by mature intelligent humor
the essay is a facetious commentary on the absurdity of war as a solution for international disputes
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in cute
making light of something usually regarded as serious or sacred
a facetious and tasteless remark about people in famine-stricken countries being spared the problem of overeating
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of facetious
Huff had one quarterback pressure Sunday (being facetious).
—
Matt Barrows, New York Times, 10 Sep. 2025
To be facetious, how many of those people who committed mass murder in the fifth largest city in America went to death row?
—Dave Zirin, Rolling Stone, 17 June 2025
At first, Yellow Face offers a facetious and overly complicated panorama, shuffling Daniel Dae Kim’s glibly intellectual DHH and Francis Jue’s heartfelt HYH among the Asian, black, and white supporting actors who portray various egotistic New York professionals.
—Armond White, National Review, 21 May 2025
In the 30-second ad, 314 Action presented Kennedy’s swim in Rock Creek as absurd, posting it next to two facetious headlines saying Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth ordered drone strikes from a steam bath and another saying Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem shot and killed another dog.
—Joseph Choi, The Hill, 19 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for facetious
Matt Barrows, New York Times, 10 Sep. 2025
To be facetious, how many of those people who committed mass murder in the fifth largest city in America went to death row?
—Dave Zirin, Rolling Stone, 17 June 2025
At first, Yellow Face offers a facetious and overly complicated panorama, shuffling Daniel Dae Kim’s glibly intellectual DHH and Francis Jue’s heartfelt HYH among the Asian, black, and white supporting actors who portray various egotistic New York professionals.
—Armond White, National Review, 21 May 2025
In the 30-second ad, 314 Action presented Kennedy’s swim in Rock Creek as absurd, posting it next to two facetious headlines saying Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth ordered drone strikes from a steam bath and another saying Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem shot and killed another dog.
—Joseph Choi, The Hill, 19 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for facetious
Recent Examples of Synonyms for facetious
Adjective
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Fierce, witty and full of heart, the novel celebrates self-advocacy, identity and the power of finding your people.—
Sarah Kate Ellis,
PEOPLE,
16 June 2026
-
In conversation and on the page, Hockney was a witty, observant, and often contrarian scholar of art, offering exuberant opinions on the likes of Turner, Constable, Ingres, Caravaggio, Van Gogh, Bacon, and Warhol.—
Mark Rozzo,
Vanity Fair,
12 June 2026
Adjective
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Serve this sweet-and-spicy salad with your favorite cute cocktail picks for a fresh-and-fun summer appetizer.—
Lisa Cericola,
Southern Living,
20 June 2026
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Baby raccoons, for example, are very cute, but their mother may have made a den in the attic, crawl space, or shed, which can be bad for them and for the homeowner.—
Michelle Mastro,
Martha Stewart,
20 June 2026
Adjective
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Shapiro-Barnum, who has a BFA in acting and a background in sketch comedy, comes armed with the ability to create humorous and well-placed questions, setting the scene for his famous guests to be endearingly disarmed by the kids.—
Arushi Jacob,
Variety,
19 June 2026
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Now, the Malice star is revealing new details about the nuptials, including a couple of humorous mishaps that added to the unforgettable memories of the day.—
Erin Clack,
PEOPLE,
16 June 2026
Adjective
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Your method of dismissing your flippant remarks, then, is probably the next best option to silence.—
R. Eric Thomas,
Chicago Tribune,
22 June 2026
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Chick lit was flippant and fizzy and fun, above all, as effervescent and guiltless as a vodka soda.—
Hillary Busis,
Vanity Fair,
4 May 2026
Adjective
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This is an Edwardian- inspired new build, so the rooms are large (starting at 290 square feet) with clever details throughout, such as reassuringly spacious showers and barista-style Morning coffee machines—a welcome upgrade on noisy Nespresso units.—
Todd Plummer,
Robb Report,
19 June 2026
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With a boost from Randy Newman’s clever score, the Buzz Lightyear sections are hilarious.—
Ryan Lattanzio,
IndieWire,
19 June 2026
Adjective
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The high-quality dress can be worn all summer long, in playful hues like white and green.—
Sarah DiMuro,
PEOPLE,
23 June 2026
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Beaded sandals, in particular, strike a balance between statement-making and approachable, offering the same playful energy as the season’s beaded jewelry and bags without requiring a complete wardrobe overhaul.—
Lauren Fisher,
Footwear News,
22 June 2026
Cite this Entry
“Facetious.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/facetious. Accessed 23 Jun. 2026.
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