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humor

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verb

as in to cater (to)
to give in to (a desire) humored her grandfather by listening to his war stories for the hundredth time

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Synonym Chooser

How does the noun humor differ from other similar words?

Some common synonyms of humor are irony, repartee, sarcasm, satire, and wit. While all these words mean "a mode of expression intended to arouse amusement," humor implies an ability to perceive the ludicrous, the comical, and the absurd in human life and to express these usually without bitterness.

a sense of humor

When could irony be used to replace humor?

While in some cases nearly identical to humor, irony applies to a manner of expression in which the intended meaning is the opposite of what is seemingly expressed.

the irony of the title

When might repartee be a better fit than humor?

The words repartee and humor can be used in similar contexts, but repartee implies the power of answering quickly, pointedly, or wittily.

a dinner guest noted for repartee

Where would sarcasm be a reasonable alternative to humor?

Although the words sarcasm and humor have much in common, sarcasm applies to expression frequently in the form of irony that is intended to cut or wound.

given to heartless sarcasm

In what contexts can satire take the place of humor?

The synonyms satire and humor are sometimes interchangeable, but satire applies to writing that exposes or ridicules conduct, doctrines, or institutions either by direct criticism or more often through irony, parody, or caricature.

a satire on the Congress

When can wit be used instead of humor?

The meanings of wit and humor largely overlap; however, wit suggests the power to evoke laughter by remarks showing verbal felicity or ingenuity and swift perception especially of the incongruous.

a playful wit

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 humor
Noun
Others, however, found a bit of humor in the situation. Andrew Stanton, MSNBC Newsweek, 19 June 2025 If the humor clicks with you, there’s joy to be had in accidentally setting yourself on fire over and over again while being chased by a Slenderman-like apparition made of Post-Its. Christopher Cruz, Rolling Stone, 19 June 2025
Verb
Service animals perform vital jobs, but humoring selfish pet owners is not one of them. Philip Galanes, New York Times, 26 Mar. 2025 Irate and dismissive, but then reluctantly indulgent, Ed agrees to humor Simon, if only with the expectation of dispelling his paranoia. Dennis Harvey, Variety, 25 Apr. 2025 See All Example Sentences for humor
Recent Examples of Synonyms for humor
Noun
  • The comedy was first announced in 2024 and recently premiered at Cannes 2025.
    Samantha Bergeson, IndieWire, 23 June 2025
  • Some say Hollywood has given up on comedy, but comedy should never give up on Hollywood, despite better incentives being offered elsewhere.
    Andreas Wiseman, Deadline, 23 June 2025
Noun
  • My ever-mutable container, my compact symmetrical spirit vehicle, nothing wasted, nothing lacking, like a dressmaker’s dummy.
    Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 26 June 2025
  • Although modern historians still debate the exact details of his role, Craig’s life story captures the entrepreneurial spirit, religious fervor, and frontier innovation that shaped early America and led to the creation of one of the world’s finest spirits.
    Joseph V Micallef, Forbes.com, 26 June 2025
Noun
  • Analysts who follow Walgreens see the move to private ownership as another plus because the company and a stock price attached to public ownership will no longer be subject to the whims of Wall Street.
    Bruce Japsen, Forbes.com, 26 June 2025
  • This arguably demonstrates why the central bank is federally mandated to be independent, so that a major lever of the economy can be used for the long-term benefit of businesses and consumers as opposed to the whims of the Oval Office.
    Eleanor Pringle, Fortune, 24 June 2025
Noun
  • The irony is that those upgrades had finally started to accelerate just as Microsoft issued its surprising news.
    Zak Doffman, Forbes.com, 28 June 2025
  • Proulx understood the irony: The same vast spaces that promise freedom also isolate, corral and break people.
    Philip Martin, Arkansas Online, 27 June 2025
Noun
  • Doing so, Cohn and Duprat return to their hallmark mode of psychological satire, filtered through a customary comedy-drama prism.
    John Hopewell, Variety, 19 June 2025
  • The Office isn’t vicious workplace satire, but this sure is.
    Brian Boone, Vulture, 18 June 2025
Noun
  • For instance, a couple months ago, dishwashers told White that listening to music while working would significantly improve their mood.
    Brit Morse, Fortune, 27 June 2025
  • Providing Personalized Mental Wellness Beyond healthcare or entertainment, the first widespread use of BCI may be for personalized mental wellness—real-time mood regulation and cognitive optimization.
    Expert Panel®, Forbes.com, 27 June 2025
Noun
  • For the Beach Bride For the summer bride hosting a seaside soirée, Loewe’s silk fishnet dress—framed with frothy ruffles—is the perfect blend of whimsy and modernity.
    Sarah Zendejas, Vogue, 23 June 2025
  • This is a standard approach to the glassware, with a touch of whimsy thanks to the ochre (or green or pink) marble at the midpoint of the stem.
    Blake Bakkila, Architectural Digest, 17 June 2025
Verb
  • Baker, 37, indulged them, starting out of her Fairfax, Calif., living room a finance club that eventually became her present-day financial education startup, Dow Janes — which boasts an Instagram following of nearly half a million.
    Malia Mendez, Los Angeles Times, 29 June 2025
  • But unfortunately, indulging too much in fried foods will trigger your cortisol.
    Audrey Noble, Vogue, 25 June 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Humor.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/humor. Accessed 5 Jul. 2025.

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