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Definition of funnext
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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
Then, simply lay out blankets on the lawn, provide picnic food favorites, and play some fun outdoor games like hide-and-seek, Simon says, hopscotch, and musical statues. Fiona Tapp, Parents, 5 July 2026 View gallery - 6 images Naked motorcycles are probably the most fun road-going motorcycles money can buy. New Atlas, 4 July 2026
Noun
The fun, as always, is in spotting which objects will be repurposed as weapons. David Rooney, HollywoodReporter, 8 July 2026 Guests will have opportunities for photos, to meet fun guests, and make plenty of royalty-worthy memories. Eric E. Harrison, Arkansas Online, 8 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for fun
Recent Examples of Synonyms for fun
Adjective
  • Also, the booing of every single hydration break has been surprisingly amusing every single time.
    Phil Hay, New York Times, 4 July 2026
  • Joel David Smallbone is briefly amusing as a cranky aristocrat and the rest of the cast does what they are expected to do.
    Pete Hammond, Deadline, 1 July 2026
Noun
  • The debate over the development has played out amid a serious downturn in the region’s entertainment industry, with studios shifting film and television production to Georgia, New Mexico and other out-of-state locations.
    Roger Vincent, Los Angeles Times, 11 July 2026
  • Bands perform as the peaceful crowd saunters, with the visual entertainment of beefy men cooking barbecue on giant grills.
    Michael Goldstein, Forbes.com, 11 July 2026
Noun
  • Folarin Balogun, the striker whose 11th-hour reinstatement Sunday by FIFA unleashed an international furor and much anti-Yankee sentiment abroad, created a free kick with a fine hold-up play.
    Tom Krasovic, San Diego Union-Tribune, 8 July 2026
  • What begins as a history play transforms into a sharp-eyed satire about the cost of assimilation in a society where money, power and white privilege remain stubbornly intertwined.
    Theater Critic, Los Angeles Times, 8 July 2026
Noun
  • There are three saunas—bio, steam bath and Finnish—and relaxation areas with a herbal tea corner and a library.
    Rebecca Ann Hughes, Forbes.com, 8 July 2026
  • They were given choices, both positive (peace, relaxation, and relief) and negative (anxiety, fear of missing out, and discomfort).
    Neil J. Rubenking, PC Magazine, 8 July 2026
Noun
  • With some flashing lights, this thing flying around in the sky would cause quite a commotion.
    Chelsea Gohd, Space.com, 2 July 2026
  • Any browns feeding there are less likely to have been spooked by the commotion.
    Tom Opre, Outdoor Life, 2 July 2026
Verb
  • According to her statement, Jake was opening a new pack of football cards and joking with his grandmother when Walter's vehicle struck theirs.
    Bailey Richards, PEOPLE, 4 July 2026
  • Trying to Open Taxi Doors People often joke about Japan living in the future.
    Jessica Kozuka, Travel + Leisure, 4 July 2026
Adjective
  • More than 90% agreed or strongly agreed that scent work is enjoyable for dogs, tires them out and builds confidence in shy dogs.
    Ryan Brennan, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 7 July 2026
  • An enjoyable end-to-end affair where the first half felt like a rout, with Australia having as many shots as yellow cards — two, the same number of goals the United States had scored.
    Anantaajith Raghuraman, New York Times, 5 July 2026
Noun
  • Unexpectedly, and to the delight of many, Audio Research’s engineers found a single chassis gave better performance than its predecessor, the two-chassis Reference 10.
    Justin Fenner, Robb Report, 8 July 2026
  • Just north of town sits Jackson Hole Mountain Resort (JHMR), your basecamp for outdoor delight.
    Wendy Altschuler, Forbes.com, 7 July 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Fun.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/fun. Accessed 12 Jul. 2026.

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