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
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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
Jeff Benjamin, Forbes.com, 30 May 2026
Co-director McKenna Harris revealed that there were a few more gags that didn’t make it into the film.
—Jazz Tangcay, Variety, 26 May 2026
Reaper Man, a reworking of the 1934 film Death Takes a Holiday, is among the first Discworld novels to incorporate real pathos alongside the gags.
—Helen Lewis, The Atlantic, 24 May 2026
There are gags in I Love Boosters straight out of Looney Tunes, like Corvette trying (and failing) to run out of Christie’s leaning condo building with the speed of Woody Woodpecker.
—Angelica Jade Bastién, Vulture, 23 May 2026
The scene used one of the film’s funniest visual gags, an apartment so crazily tilted that nobody inside it could stand up straight.
—Emily Nussbaum, New Yorker, 17 May 2026
However, the iconic couch gags are far less frequent these days.
—Brenton Blanchet, PEOPLE, 20 Apr. 2026
Earlier in their conversation, Mulaney prefaced that Forte often enjoyed pulling gags that seemed to prank himself rather than the other person.
—Emlyn Travis, Entertainment Weekly, 13 Apr. 2026
Kelly’s videos, delivered in her distinctive, pitchy voice (think Valley girl with notes of humdrum detachment a la the famously monotone comedian Ben Stein), are both personal and woven with running gags.
—Rachel Brodsky, Rolling Stone, 12 Apr. 2026
Kevin Dolak, HollywoodReporter, 13 Jan. 2026
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
Noun
While most of its funny moments fall into overused gags, Jonnie Park and Yvette Nicole Brown are genuine comedic gold as an adorably odd couple that shine on screen together every time.
—Jeff Benjamin, Forbes.com, 30 May 2026
Co-director McKenna Harris revealed that there were a few more gags that didn’t make it into the film.
—Jazz Tangcay, Variety, 26 May 2026
Reaper Man, a reworking of the 1934 film Death Takes a Holiday, is among the first Discworld novels to incorporate real pathos alongside the gags.
—Helen Lewis, The Atlantic, 24 May 2026
There are gags in I Love Boosters straight out of Looney Tunes, like Corvette trying (and failing) to run out of Christie’s leaning condo building with the speed of Woody Woodpecker.
—Angelica Jade Bastién, Vulture, 23 May 2026
The scene used one of the film’s funniest visual gags, an apartment so crazily tilted that nobody inside it could stand up straight.
—Emily Nussbaum, New Yorker, 17 May 2026
However, the iconic couch gags are far less frequent these days.
—Brenton Blanchet, PEOPLE, 20 Apr. 2026
Earlier in their conversation, Mulaney prefaced that Forte often enjoyed pulling gags that seemed to prank himself rather than the other person.
—Emlyn Travis, Entertainment Weekly, 13 Apr. 2026
Kelly’s videos, delivered in her distinctive, pitchy voice (think Valley girl with notes of humdrum detachment a la the famously monotone comedian Ben Stein), are both personal and woven with running gags.
—Rachel Brodsky, Rolling Stone, 12 Apr. 2026
Verb
Speaking with Stern on post-Globes Monday for an episode that aired Tuesday, Glaser shared why gags about the current political climate were absent from the show.
—Kevin Dolak, HollywoodReporter, 13 Jan. 2026
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
-
Millions and millions of people tuned in to watch Johnny Carson poke fun at everyone, identify and support up-and-coming comics, entertain with clever and timeless skits, bring on musical guests and tell jokes.—
Ian Miller OutKick,
FOXNews.com,
1 June 2026
-
The star has been the butt of too many mean jokes, the object of veneration and a muse for film and literary retellings that have elevated her into the realm of myth.—
Daniel D'Addario,
Variety,
1 June 2026
Noun
-
Jokes and pranks and magic tricks.—
Alex Gurley,
PEOPLE,
3 June 2026
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The festival is rooted in the story of Lord Krishna, the reincarnation of Lord Vishnu, who is said to have played pranks by splashing maids with water and colors.—
Hanna Wickes,
Sacbee.com,
2 June 2026
Verb
-
Shows were led by a sentient wad of meat, a talk-show host who vomits in front of guests, and a reality-TV star who never shows his face.—
Eric Vilas-Boas,
Vulture,
18 Mar. 2026
-
Absinthe-eyed, she projectile-vomits blunt observations and also oysters onto the heavies, overimbibing her way into her own grave once she’s inevitably discarded with a shot and shove down a stairwell (a barely-there John Magaro plays one of the gangsters).—
Ryan Lattanzio,
IndieWire,
4 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Not the one who chokes in the playoffs.—
Geoff Clark OutKick,
FOXNews.com,
7 May 2026
-
Democratic lawmakers aren’t particularly sympathetic to the industry, pointing to reports of soaring profits for oil companies as the war chokes consumers around the world.—
Sacbee.com,
Sacbee.com,
6 May 2026
Noun
-
These people had huge laughs Thursday morning over their airport Bloody Marys after realizing their words were treated as if serious.—
Joe Rexrode,
New York Times,
29 May 2026
-
Sasmita laughs wrapped in the yellow like the sun sarong.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
29 May 2026
Noun
-
In the middle, a Cartman in the role of a Midtown tax adviser dispenses accounting tips and tricks, culled from a YouTube account run by a real-life New York CPA.—
Theo Belci,
Artforum,
2 June 2026
-
That makes many older attack tricks harder to pull off.—
Kurt Knutsson,
FOXNews.com,
1 June 2026
Cite this Entry
“Gags.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/gags. Accessed 7 Jun. 2026.
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