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
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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
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Recent Examples of gags
Rachel Brodsky, Rolling Stone, 12 Apr. 2026
Allen’s shows are designed to be evergreens with few topical gags so they can be repeated.
—Los Angeles Times, 6 Apr. 2026
Don't forget to dust off your favorite April Fool's gags today.
—Joe Mutascio, IndyStar, 1 Apr. 2026
Some of the gags are inspired, some are exasperating, none of them are presented in a way that suggests the filmmakers know the difference, and all of them are shoved down your throat until they’re diminished enough to swallow.
—David Ehrlich, IndieWire, 31 Mar. 2026
But what was served up were stale, pale sketches that seemed to have been exhumed from some old codger’s book of gags from 19 bloody 50!
—Baz Bamigboye, Deadline, 21 Mar. 2026
One of the better gags of last night’s Academy Awards ceremony came at the very end of the show, even after the Best Picture winners’ speeches.
—Bilge Ebiri, Vulture, 16 Mar. 2026
The crowd was raucous with laughter throughout all of the film’s witty dialogue and visual gags, and cheered as the characters realized their goals on screen.
—Selome Hailu, Variety, 13 Mar. 2026
Join the hilarious hunt this Halloween season, where the only thing sharper than Dracula’s fangs are the gags that’ll leave you in stitches.
—Cincinnati Enquirer, 7 Mar. 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
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
Allen’s shows are designed to be evergreens with few topical gags so they can be repeated.
—Los Angeles Times, 6 Apr. 2026
Don't forget to dust off your favorite April Fool's gags today.
—Joe Mutascio, IndyStar, 1 Apr. 2026
Some of the gags are inspired, some are exasperating, none of them are presented in a way that suggests the filmmakers know the difference, and all of them are shoved down your throat until they’re diminished enough to swallow.
—David Ehrlich, IndieWire, 31 Mar. 2026
But what was served up were stale, pale sketches that seemed to have been exhumed from some old codger’s book of gags from 19 bloody 50!
—Baz Bamigboye, Deadline, 21 Mar. 2026
One of the better gags of last night’s Academy Awards ceremony came at the very end of the show, even after the Best Picture winners’ speeches.
—Bilge Ebiri, Vulture, 16 Mar. 2026
The crowd was raucous with laughter throughout all of the film’s witty dialogue and visual gags, and cheered as the characters realized their goals on screen.
—Selome Hailu, Variety, 13 Mar. 2026
Join the hilarious hunt this Halloween season, where the only thing sharper than Dracula’s fangs are the gags that’ll leave you in stitches.
—Cincinnati Enquirer, 7 Mar. 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
-
The jokes — good, bad and cheap — come non-stop in then show’s 90 minutes, and are filled and sometimes pummeled with pop culture and brand-name references, puns, anachronistic humor, and naughty bits.—
Frank Rizzo,
Variety,
13 Apr. 2026
-
Whitehall’s opening monologue included jokes about his upcoming wedding (to model partner Roxy Horner), largely lamenting the cost and need to socialize with so many people.—
Max Goldbart,
Deadline,
13 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
Of course, the pranks are all in good fun, with owners keeping things safe and playful.—
Kendall Malinchock,
USA Today,
1 Apr. 2026
-
According to a 2025 roundup of April Fools’ food promotions by the New York Post, several national brands followed Dunkin’s lead by offering tangible rewards instead of traditional pranks.—
Amanda Greenwood,
MSNBC Newsweek,
1 Apr. 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
-
Jasmine almost chokes on her corn dog when that comes out of Janet’s mouth.—
Brian Moylan,
Vulture,
9 Apr. 2026
-
Then Leaphorn appears, knocks her down, and chokes her.—
Jordan Hoffman,
Entertainment Weekly,
6 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
The laughs come fast and furious, too, on a relentless rhythm with an astonishing hit rate.—
Dave Quinn,
PEOPLE,
13 Apr. 2026
-
Jane tries to give it a bit of meta humor, milking laughs from throwing money at Juicy and doing little jazz hands.—
Jason P. Frank,
Vulture,
11 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
Payment processors grew suspicious despite Cotter’s tricks, and by 2020 the US Postal Inspection Service had launched an investigation.—
Nate Anderson,
ArsTechnica,
13 Apr. 2026
-
The mother-daughter duo coordinated in shades of cream and brown, with Charlotte even borrowing some of her mom's styling tricks (both wore the British brand Self-Portrait, for example).—
Emma Banks,
InStyle,
12 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Gags.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/gags. Accessed 16 Apr. 2026.
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