Synonyms of facetious

facetious

adjective

fə-ˈsē-shəs 

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

Synonyms & Similar Words

• witty
• humorous
• clever
• funny
• jocular
• joking
• playful
• amusing
• smart
• comical
• ridiculous
• comic
• mischievous
• frivolous
• cerebral
• highbrow
• intellectual
• ludicrous
• entertaining
• hysterical
• flippant
• teasing
• farcical
• laughing
• jocose
• laughable
• jesting
• droll
• jovial
• merry
• risible
• mirthful
• riotous
• jolly
• antic
• uproarious
• bantering
• whimsical
• joshing
• rollicking
• waggish
• screaming
• prankish
• highbrowed
• sidesplitting
• diverting
• flip
• sparkling
• sunny
• jocund
• pert
• smart-aleck
• smart-alecky
• scintillating

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• stupid
• witless
• lowbrow
• lame
• brainless
• corny
• hackneyed
• serious
• humorless
• earnest
• solemn
• hackney
• unfunny
• somber
• sober
• grave
• serious-minded
• unamusing
• plaintive
• sorry
• doleful
• lachrymose
• tearful
• dolorous
• uncomic
• woeful

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

Synonyms & Similar Words

• cute
• flippant
• playful
• inappropriate
• wise
• smart
• smart-ass
• flip
• smart-assed
• smart-aleck
• pert
• wiseass
• mischievous
• smart-alecky
• smarty-pants
• rude
• frivolous
• casual
• cheeky
• impudent
• waggish
• cocky
• impertinent
• impish
• saucy
• sassy
• roguish
• disrespectful
• glib
• fresh
• thoughtless
• flighty
• breezy

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• sincere
• earnest
• serious
• solemn
• grave
• sober
• somber

Synonym Chooser

How is the word facetious distinct from other similar adjectives?

Some common synonyms of facetious are humorous, jocose, jocular, and witty. While all these words mean "provoking or intended to provoke laughter," facetious stresses a desire to produce laughter and may be derogatory in implying dubious or ill-timed attempts at wit or humor.

facetious comments

When is humorous a more appropriate choice than facetious?

The words humorous and facetious can be used in similar contexts, but humorous applies broadly to anything that evokes usually genial laughter and may contrast with witty in suggesting whimsicality or eccentricity.

humorous anecdotes

How are the words jocose and facetious related?

Jocose is somewhat less derogatory than facetious in suggesting habitual waggishness or playfulness.

jocose proposals

When can jocular be used instead of facetious?

The synonyms jocular and facetious are sometimes interchangeable, but jocular implies a usually habitual fondness for jesting and joking.

a jocular fellow

When could witty be used to replace facetious?

While the synonyms witty and facetious are close in meaning, witty suggests cleverness and quickness of mind.

a witty remark

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of facetious

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

Given this is an AMA, there is no clear way to tell if Perkins was being facetious or not. —Samantha Bergeson, IndieWire, 5 Mar. 2025

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