fun 1 of 3

fun

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noun

1
2
as in play
an attitude or manner not to be taken seriously when I said that playing the piano like that could get you arrested, I only said it in fun

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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fun

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verb

Synonym Chooser

How does the noun fun differ from other similar words?

Some common synonyms of fun are game, jest, play, and sport. While all these words mean "action or speech that provides amusement or arouses laughter," fun usually implies laughter or gaiety but may imply merely a lack of serious or ulterior purpose.

played cards just for fun

How do game and sport relate to one another, in the sense of fun?

Game is close to sport, and often stresses mischievous or malicious fun.

made game of their poor relations

When can jest be used instead of fun?

The words jest and fun can be used in similar contexts, but jest implies lack of earnestness and may suggest a hoaxing or teasing.

hurt by remarks said only in jest

When might play be a better fit than fun?

In some situations, the words play and fun are roughly equivalent. However, play stresses the opposition to earnest without implying any malice or mischief.

pretended to strangle his brother in play

In what contexts can sport take the place of fun?

The synonyms sport and fun are sometimes interchangeable, but sport applies especially to the arousing of laughter against someone.

teasing begun in sport led to anger

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 fun
Adjective
This family-friendly pick is fun, suspenseful and full of mystery. Emy Lacroix, PEOPLE, 29 Oct. 2025 Their line of bangers includes The Pathfinder Spritz and The Pathfinder Negroni featuring fun functional herbs like angelica root, saffron, and douglas fir. Chala June, Bon Appetit Magazine, 29 Oct. 2025
Noun
Now, some people might get the wrong idea that Pluribus shares the same universe as Saul and Bad, but are those meta references just too much fun to resist? Brian Davids, HollywoodReporter, 30 Oct. 2025 Megan, who is known on TikTok as @megankirkk, recently took a shelter dog named Winnie out for a day of fun. Liz O'Connell, MSNBC Newsweek, 30 Oct. 2025 See All Example Sentences for fun
Recent Examples of Synonyms for fun
Adjective
  • Well, in some ways a lot of Dylan’s fakery of his own bio has always been very amusing.
    Andy Greene, Rolling Stone, 27 Oct. 2025
  • Beyond the amusing jokes, Carlile’s point seems to be that Mitchell doesn’t need to be the world’s most flagrant empath to be one of its greatest healers.
    Chris Willman, Variety, 24 Oct. 2025
Noun
  • Get your daily dose of entertainment news, celebrity updates, and what to watch with our EW Dispatch newsletter.
    Ryan Coleman, Entertainment Weekly, 30 Oct. 2025
  • Mikita Brottman and David Brottman point out that the latter, more sensational, mode was often the more appealing in entertainment.
    JSTOR Daily, JSTOR Daily, 30 Oct. 2025
Noun
  • Wild’s power play goes scoreless The Wild gave up a power-play goal in the third period and went 0 for 4 on the power play with three shots on goal, including two scoreless ones in the first period with a chance to extend their lead.
    Michael Russo, New York Times, 31 Oct. 2025
  • This way of peering at screen culture from an inexact distance, which also comes up in a scolding scene where Ethan scrolls aimlessly through something like TikTok, rankles in a play that is otherwise so precise about physical time and space.
    Jackson McHenry, Vulture, 31 Oct. 2025
Noun
  • Campton, New Hampshire, is also attracting travelers to New England with a mix of snowy outdoor adventures and seclusion for rest and relaxation.
    Lydia Price, Travel + Leisure, 28 Oct. 2025
  • Rest, relaxation, and rejuvenation at Mayakoba You’ll find many ways to reset across the property’s deeply restorative spas.
    AFAR Media, AFAR Media, 24 Oct. 2025
Noun
  • Actual Vancouverites barely stood by to watch the commotion.
    Nicholas Quah, Vulture, 23 Oct. 2025
  • On the other side, there was just as much commotion, but these conversations were almost hysterical — and far uglier.
    Julyssa Lopez, Rolling Stone, 19 Oct. 2025
Verb
  • Since posting, Astra’s story has attracted thousands of amused comments, with many followers joking about the dramatic difference between the two breeds.
    Alice Gibbs, MSNBC Newsweek, 24 Oct. 2025
  • The victim told police that Ising had constantly harassed him at work for two years, sitting next to him during meals and joking about his inability to eat many foods because of his medical condition.
    Judy L. Thomas, Kansas City Star, 24 Oct. 2025
Adjective
  • This could make eating more enjoyable, leading to eating more.
    Merve Ceylan, Health, 26 Oct. 2025
  • Taking pictures can actually make an experience more enjoyable and more lasting.
    Jack Beresford, MSNBC Newsweek, 24 Oct. 2025
Noun
  • Balloon Balloon Balloon is fun for you, too — a sheer delight for any fan of homemade guitar pop.
    Simon Vozick-Levinson, Rolling Stone, 29 Oct. 2025
  • That's right, Dairy Queen is getting in the holiday spirit with a new menu full of seasonal delights.
    Melissa Locker, Southern Living, 29 Oct. 2025

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Fun.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/fun. Accessed 31 Oct. 2025.

More from Merriam-Webster on fun

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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