1
as in jokes
something said or done to cause laughter
the movie featured a gag involving a chicken driving a car that audiences thought was hysterically funny
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
2
as in pranks
a playful or mischievous act intended as a joke
played a gag on their teammate by putting shaving cream in his hat
Synonyms & Similar Words
1
as in vomits
to discharge the contents of the stomach through the mouth
the terrible smell of rotting fish made me gag
Synonyms & Similar Words
2
3
as in quips
to make jokes
the actor typically mugs and gags through his movies, but in his latest vehicle he plays it straight
Synonyms & Similar Words
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of gags
Dave Quinn, PEOPLE, 10 Nov. 2025
Recurring gags, like one with Madonna suddenly falling asleep mid-sentence, are surprising and therefore funny the first time they’re rolled out, and then less surprising and therefore less funny with each repetition.
—Angie Han, HollywoodReporter, 7 Nov. 2025
Fans have been tearing the new Springfield Island map apart to unearth Easter eggs and hidden gags, including a full dissection of the notorious wonky house that the family inhabits.
—Christopher Cruz, Rolling Stone, 5 Nov. 2025
Great practical effects and some very funny gags make this worth a watch.
—PC Magazine, 24 Oct. 2025
Mel Brooks’ best comedy shares many similarities with his other revered films – a strong grip of genre beats, a non-stop barrage of gags yanking us forward, and an eagerness to give every performer a chance to comedically shine.
—Rory Doherty, Vulture, 20 Oct. 2025
One of the running gags of the Space Race was the unappetizing nature of the food astronauts packed for their trip to the Moon.
—David Szondy
october 19, New Atlas, 19 Oct. 2025
Pointed gestures toward the lingering tension between Japan and Korea — and between those two countries and the rest of the planet — are drowned out by tiresome bickering and exaggerated gags, like a meaningful conversation swallowed into the sound of an airplane engine screaming overhead.
—David Ehrlich, IndieWire, 15 Oct. 2025
My focus was always trying to bring the kind of complexities of the kink world to the screen…trying to find the warmth in that community rather than be like Prince Albert, whips, chains, and gags.
—Nick Romano, Entertainment Weekly, 4 Oct. 2025
Nicholas Quah, Vulture, 9 Sep. 2025
Noun
Yes, the natural charisma is there, but gone are the hammy flourishes and over-the-top gags.
—Dave Quinn, PEOPLE, 10 Nov. 2025
Recurring gags, like one with Madonna suddenly falling asleep mid-sentence, are surprising and therefore funny the first time they’re rolled out, and then less surprising and therefore less funny with each repetition.
—Angie Han, HollywoodReporter, 7 Nov. 2025
Fans have been tearing the new Springfield Island map apart to unearth Easter eggs and hidden gags, including a full dissection of the notorious wonky house that the family inhabits.
—Christopher Cruz, Rolling Stone, 5 Nov. 2025
Great practical effects and some very funny gags make this worth a watch.
—PC Magazine, 24 Oct. 2025
Mel Brooks’ best comedy shares many similarities with his other revered films – a strong grip of genre beats, a non-stop barrage of gags yanking us forward, and an eagerness to give every performer a chance to comedically shine.
—Rory Doherty, Vulture, 20 Oct. 2025
One of the running gags of the Space Race was the unappetizing nature of the food astronauts packed for their trip to the Moon.
—David Szondy
october 19, New Atlas, 19 Oct. 2025
Pointed gestures toward the lingering tension between Japan and Korea — and between those two countries and the rest of the planet — are drowned out by tiresome bickering and exaggerated gags, like a meaningful conversation swallowed into the sound of an airplane engine screaming overhead.
—David Ehrlich, IndieWire, 15 Oct. 2025
My focus was always trying to bring the kind of complexities of the kink world to the screen…trying to find the warmth in that community rather than be like Prince Albert, whips, chains, and gags.
—Nick Romano, Entertainment Weekly, 4 Oct. 2025
Verb
Some gags land, others don’t, and the script’s sudden bursts of melancholy dependably catch you in the gut.
—Nicholas Quah, Vulture, 9 Sep. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for gags
Noun
-
Of course, not all jokes can be so easily divided into these categories.—
Big Think,
Big Think,
5 Nov. 2025
-
Plus, under the watchful eyes of veteran host Casey Wilson and newbie Andrew Rannells, the jokes never stop in the tent, as seen in another clip.—
Sabrina Weiss,
PEOPLE,
5 Nov. 2025
Noun
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Alumni hold debates and students from each school often pull pranks on the other.—
Paige Moore,
AZCentral.com,
6 Nov. 2025
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The comedy horror film revolves around Brian (Tyler Perry) forbidding his daughter Tiffany (Diamond White) from attending a frat party, which sets off a string of Halloween pranks.—
Ariana Quihuiz,
PEOPLE,
30 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
Cartman starts laughing so hard that he projectile vomits all over Thiel.—
Jack Dunn,
Variety,
16 Oct. 2025
-
That horrible mistake reveals itself several scenes later when Katie projectile vomits into her windshield.—
Ben Rosenstock,
Vulture,
24 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
Left to die, breathless and alone, Invisigal chokes while Robert screams from the other end of the comms.—
Christopher Cruz,
Rolling Stone,
7 Nov. 2025
-
Even the woman Larry falls for, Gwen (Evelyn Ankers), isn't immune to the animal's evil charms, and the creature nearly chokes the life out of her in one scene.—
Steven Thrash,
Entertainment Weekly,
24 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
Reporters let out a few more laughs before trying to move on to questions about Sunday’s game, but McDaniel interrupted to explain his joke even further.—
Sean Neumann,
PEOPLE,
11 Nov. 2025
-
Prefer some laughs instead before Christmas?—
Caitlin White,
Variety,
10 Nov. 2025
Noun
-
Cherki is visibly excited by his spectators, eager to show off his tricks, until a coach comes into frame on the YouTube video and tells them their fun is over.—
Jordan Campbell,
New York Times,
8 Nov. 2025
-
Cheo was a jokester and would play tricks on her, like pretending to be asleep, to lighten the mood.—
Kevin G. Hall,
Miami Herald,
7 Nov. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Gags.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/gags. Accessed 14 Nov. 2025.
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