Definition of harlequinnext
as in clown
a comically dressed performer (as at a circus) who entertains with playful tricks and ridiculous behavior among the court entertainers waiting to enter the grand hall were masked harlequins in brightly colored pantaloons

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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 harlequin The spill hit 1,300 miles of coastline, leading to the deaths of about 900 bald eagles, 300 seals, 1,000 harlequin ducks, 2,800 sea otters and 250,000 seabirds, according to the conservation group Oceana. Arizona Republic, AZCentral.com, 24 Mar. 2026 Rather than the usual crisscross pattern, Holmes’ sweater features solid block diamonds in bold colors for a harlequin look that is honestly a breath of fresh air. Elizabeth Logan, Glamour, 27 Jan. 2026 In these respects, apart from the harlequin excesses of his Stalinism, Cowley is terrifically sound. Vince Passaro, Harpers Magazine, 30 Dec. 2025 Pity the poor actor who has to co-star opposite a 150-pound harlequin Great Dane. Peter Rainer, Christian Science Monitor, 3 Apr. 2025 See All Example Sentences for harlequin
Recent Examples of Synonyms for harlequin
clown
Noun
  • The final Scary Movie trailer opens with a fittingly grotesque send-up of Terrifier, the ultra-bloody, low-budget clown slasher that's built a cult following.
    Ryan Coleman, Entertainment Weekly, 5 June 2026
  • What appears to be a Unitree G1 humanoid robot wearing a blue clown wig can be seen confidently executing a roundhouse kick — squarely in the stomach of a young child in the audience, causing the kid to double over in pain.
    Victor Tangermann, Futurism, 4 June 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Harlequin.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/harlequin. Accessed 10 Jun. 2026.

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