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
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 gags
David Rooney, HollywoodReporter, 13 Sep. 2025
The gags are ridiculous, if gentle.
—Stephanie Zacharek, Time, 11 Sep. 2025
The humor, much like its source material, tries to be as delightfully zany as possible, packed with slapstick gags for kids and sly meta jokes for parents.
—Travis Bean, Forbes.com, 6 Sep. 2025
That’s played for comic irony, but in general, the documentary presence isn’t always or even often in the service of gags.
—Jesse Hassenger, Vulture, 5 Sep. 2025
If the gross-out gags are hilarious, a streamer or studio will pounce.
—Brent Lang, Variety, 5 Sep. 2025
Back in the day, its sister shows on Fox were The Simpsons and Family Guy, two punch-line-heavy shows with lots of cutaway gags and surreal touches.
—Jeremy Gordon, The Atlantic, 22 Aug. 2025
Video episodes often include behind-the-scenes moments, visual gags, and extra banter not as noticeable in audio-only format.
—Hannah Parry
anna Commander
sonam Sheth, MSNBC Newsweek, 13 Aug. 2025
Nicholas Quah, Vulture, 9 Sep. 2025
Noun
Via visual gags, a cast of gifted comic actors and a script that pulls both from ’80s and ’90s TV movies and screen classics like Suddenly, Last Summer and The Children’s Hour, Maddie’s Secret straddles the line between comedy and melodrama, creating a wholly unique cinematic experience.
—David Rooney, HollywoodReporter, 13 Sep. 2025
The gags are ridiculous, if gentle.
—Stephanie Zacharek, Time, 11 Sep. 2025
The humor, much like its source material, tries to be as delightfully zany as possible, packed with slapstick gags for kids and sly meta jokes for parents.
—Travis Bean, Forbes.com, 6 Sep. 2025
That’s played for comic irony, but in general, the documentary presence isn’t always or even often in the service of gags.
—Jesse Hassenger, Vulture, 5 Sep. 2025
If the gross-out gags are hilarious, a streamer or studio will pounce.
—Brent Lang, Variety, 5 Sep. 2025
Back in the day, its sister shows on Fox were The Simpsons and Family Guy, two punch-line-heavy shows with lots of cutaway gags and surreal touches.
—Jeremy Gordon, The Atlantic, 22 Aug. 2025
Video episodes often include behind-the-scenes moments, visual gags, and extra banter not as noticeable in audio-only format.
—Hannah Parry
anna Commander
sonam Sheth, MSNBC Newsweek, 13 Aug. 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
-
That means having to cut jokes that don't fit his do-no-harm MO.—
Erin Jensen,
USA Today,
11 Sep. 2025
-
His voice is exuberant, especially when cracking jokes.—
Duaa Eldeib,
ProPublica,
10 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
After provoking the ire of the college kids, Madea and her clan are subjected to a series of ghoulish pranks.—
Declan Gallagher,
Entertainment Weekly,
14 Sep. 2025
-
Still, Shannon promised, no pranks this time, because the movie at hand is too important.—
Mike Ryan,
IndieWire,
12 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
The first crazy thing that happens to the movie Smurls is when a kitchen chandelier almost falls on them, though the most visceral is when oldest sister Dawn Smurl (Beau Gadsdon) suddenly vomits up pieces of glass, leaving the sink and her face a bloody mess.—
Brian Truitt,
USA Today,
5 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
Hybrid-resilient architecture—local backups that can kick in like muscle memory when the cloud chokes.—
Expert Panel®,
Forbes.com,
3 Sep. 2025
-
On the ground, there’s a war of grappling, chokes, and limb breaks, and Oliveira is one of the best to ever fight it.—
Jack Crosbie,
Rolling Stone,
14 Jan. 2025
Noun
-
Posey brought the laughs and lorazepam to The White Lotus season 3 as the Ratliff family matriarch, Victoria.—
Carson Blackwelder,
PEOPLE,
15 Sep. 2025
-
Rogen remembers the moment Apatow came up with one of the scenes that drew the biggest laughs in the film, in which Steve Carell’s character awkwardly tries to relieve himself while aroused.—
Adrienne LaFrance,
The Atlantic,
15 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
Dillon took a beat to think about what works for him before sharing his tips and tricks to remaining youthful.—
Angel Saunders,
PEOPLE,
12 Sep. 2025
-
Weaver shares his go-to honey tips, tricks and cocktail recipes.—
Brittany Anas,
Denver Post,
10 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Gags.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/gags. Accessed 18 Sep. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share