as in humor
the amusing quality or element in something
the funniness of the situation is often lost on the victim of the prank
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
1
as in humorous
causing or intended to cause laughter
a very funny movie that had audiences rolling in the aisles
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in bizarre
different from the ordinary in a way that causes curiosity or suspicion
that's funny, for I could have sworn I put my keys right here yesterday
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in unusual
noticeably different from what is generally found or experienced
that's a funny-looking dog—what kind is it?
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
1
as in cartoon
a series of drawings that tell a story or part of a story
reading the Sunday funnies is part of my weekend ritual
Synonyms & Similar Words
2
as in joke
something said or done to cause laughter
let's can the funnies—we've got serious work to do here
Synonyms & Similar Words
Try This Instead
Try This InsteadFor
Try This
a funny story
a funny thing
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
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Recent Examples of funniness
Elisabeth Sherman, Parents, 24 Apr. 2025
Nothing funny about the first two games of the Lakers’ postseason, eight quarters of basketball that have been incredibly physical, mostly rhythmless and incredibly even.
—Dan Woike, Los Angeles Times, 24 Apr. 2025
Brian Tallerico, Vulture, 6 June 2024
There’s plenty of gallows humor about aging and dying, although the film moves slower than most comedies and the jokes are rarely laugh-out-loud funny.
—Jordan Mintzer, The Hollywood Reporter, 19 May 2024
See All Example Sentences for funniness
Adjective
Comments Since Sesame Street first began airing in 1969, children have loved it thanks to the goofy, kind, funny, affectionate Muppets—including Big Bird, Elmo, Cookie Monster, and the rest of the residents of the neighborhood.
—Elisabeth Sherman, Parents, 24 Apr. 2025
Nothing funny about the first two games of the Lakers’ postseason, eight quarters of basketball that have been incredibly physical, mostly rhythmless and incredibly even.
—Dan Woike, Los Angeles Times, 24 Apr. 2025
Noun
More nervously unsettling than laugh-out-loud funny, Iannucci’s style works well for his incredible cast, including Steve Buscemi, Paddy Considine, Jason Isaacs, Rupert Friend, Michael Palin, and Andrea Riseborough.
—Brian Tallerico, Vulture, 6 June 2024
There’s plenty of gallows humor about aging and dying, although the film moves slower than most comedies and the jokes are rarely laugh-out-loud funny.
—Jordan Mintzer, The Hollywood Reporter, 19 May 2024
See All Example Sentences for funniness
Recent Examples of Synonyms for funniness
Adjective
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There were humorous moments amid the writers’ accounts of tragedy.—
Rebecca Plevin,
Los Angeles Times,
26 Apr. 2025
-
When the slasher eventually appears, stealing the group’s car before murdering them with a humorous bluntness, there is also a real atmosphere of dread.—
Lovia Gyarkye,
HollywoodReporter,
24 Apr. 2025
Adjective
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Even more bizarre was the depth the starlight's dip changed with every transit.—
Victoria Corless,
Space.com,
22 Apr. 2025
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The gay man who was involved in Rep. Nancy Mace’s viral meltdown at an Ulta Beauty store is speaking out about the bizarre incident.—
Abby Monteil,
Them.,
22 Apr. 2025
Adjective
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But many don't realize there are lots of other, more unusual ways allergies can show up.—
Angela Haupt,
Time,
2 May 2025
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That’s not unusual, for people to send spritzes, but then the manager came out with a gift bag.—
Seija Rankin,
HollywoodReporter,
2 May 2025
Adjective
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In the sequel to A Simple Favor, Lively returns as Emily Nelson alongside Anna Kendrick’s Stephanie Smothers in the comedic thriller, which premiered at South by Southwest on March 7.—
Angel Saunders,
People.com,
2 May 2025
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In the series, Cassandra is slightly younger than her counterpart in the book, and that partly had to do with Hawes, whose dramatic and comedic abilities were crucial to the role.—
Maira Garcia,
Los Angeles Times,
2 May 2025
Adjective
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The Bengals added Fairchild in the third, so adding another lineman while there were more pressing needs is strange, especially a raw lineman like Rivers.—
Mark Weinstein,
MSNBC Newsweek,
28 Apr. 2025
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Moses’s book eddies around with the energy of someone reporting back from a very long and strange evening clicking through Wikipedia links, enjoying every chance to add a tangent.—
Jackson McHenry,
Vulture,
28 Apr. 2025
Adjective
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The eminence whom the film casts as the prime mover of benevolent governance is Nelson Rockefeller, a liberal Republican (the breed wasn’t uncommon then) who was the state’s governor from 1959 to 1973.—
Richard Brody,
New Yorker,
23 Apr. 2025
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Loud noises in the night weren't uncommon—but this time was different.—
Ross Rosenfeld,
MSNBC Newsweek,
23 Apr. 2025
Adjective
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Also amusing is Fiona Glascott as Lady Violet, an old acquaintance of Sherlock’s who specializes officially in schooling young ladies like Clara to join British high society and unofficially in casting her imperious judgment everywhere.—
Angie Han,
HollywoodReporter,
15 Apr. 2025
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And while the vision of Young, a vigorous 70 in his trademark schoolboy shorts, tie, crew socks and black shoes, is always amusing, there was nothing but serious respect for his finger-blistering playing.—
Melissa Ruggieri,
USA Today,
11 Apr. 2025
Adjective
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On the other hand, this three-month gap is a little weird.—
Erik Kain,
Forbes.com,
28 Apr. 2025
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It’s been a weird year for some of the league’s best closers.—
Ken Rosenthal,
New York Times,
28 Apr. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Funniness.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/funniness. Accessed 6 May. 2025.
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