Merriam-Webster Logo
SINCE 1828
Menu
dictionary thesaurus

Thesaurus

humor

noun

Synonyms and Antonyms of humor

1 the amusing quality or element in something

  • we failed to see any humor in his mean and juvenile jokes
Synonyms of humor

comedy, comic, comicality, drollery, drollness, funniness, hilariousness, humorousness, richness, uproariousness
Words Related to humor

amusement, enjoyment, fun, pleasure

absurdity, irony, laughableness, ludicrousness, ridiculousness

whimsicality, wittiness, wryness

burlesque, caricature, farce, jest, lampoon, parody, satire, slapstick, spoof, takeoff

jocularity, jokiness, playfulness, waggishness
Near Antonyms of humor

agony, anguish, dolor, grief, heartache, heartbreak, misery, sorrow, torment, torture, tribulation, woe

gravity, seriousness, soberness, solemnity, solemnness, somberness
Antonyms of humor

pathos

2 humorous entertainment

  • a screenwriter best known for lowbrow humor
Synonyms of humor

comedy, farce, slapstick
Words Related to humor

high comedy, low comedy

burlesque, parody, satire

improv, stand-up

banter, drollery, persiflage, wit

foolery, fun, horseplay, knockabout, monkeyshine(s), shenanigan(s)

3 a state of mind dominated by a particular emotion

  • the prospect of going out to dinner put her in a good humor all day
Synonyms of humor

cheer, feather, mode, mood, spirit, temper
Words Related to humor

angle, attitude, mind-set, outlook, perspective, slant, standpoint, viewpoint

emotion, feeling, heart, passion, sentiment

strain

belief, conviction, judgment (or judgement), mind, opinion

expression, tone, vein

character, disposition, identity, individuality, makeup, mettle, personality, selfhood, self-identity, temper, temperament

responsiveness, sensibility, sensitiveness, sensitivity
Phrases Synonymous with humor

frame of mind

4 a sudden impulsive and apparently unmotivated idea or action

  • she was seized by a sudden humor to contact an old college friend that she hadn't seen in ages
Synonyms of humor

bee, caprice, crank, fancy, freak, kink, maggot, megrim, notion, vagary, vagrancy, whim, whimsy (also whimsey)
Words Related to humor

capriciousness, fancifulness, fantasy (also phantasy), freakishness, impetuosity, whimsicality

conceit

concept, conception, image, impression, mind's eye, picture, thought

brainstorm, inspiration
Phrases Synonymous with humor

bee in one's bonnet

Synonym Discussion of humor

wit, humor, irony, sarcasm, satire, repartee mean a mode of expression intended to arouse amusement. wit suggests the power to evoke laughter by remarks showing verbal felicity or ingenuity and swift perception especially of the incongruous.
    • a playful wit
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
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
sarcasm applies to expression frequently in the form of irony that is intended to cut or wound.
    • given to heartless sarcasm
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
repartee implies the power of answering quickly, pointedly, or wittily.
    • a dinner guest noted for repartee

humor

verb

Synonyms and Antonyms of humor

to give in to (a desire)

  • humored her grandfather by listening to his war stories for the hundredth time
Synonyms of humor

cater (to), gratify, indulge
Words Related to humor

bask, luxuriate, revel, wallow

coddle, mollycoddle, pamper, spoil

delight, please, pleasure

sate, satiate, satisfy
Near Antonyms of humor

bridle, check, constrain, curb, inhibit, restrain, stifle

Synonym Discussion of humor

indulge, pamper, humor, spoil, baby, mollycoddle mean to show undue favor to a person's desires and feelings. indulge implies excessive compliance and weakness in gratifying another's or one's own desires.
    • indulged myself with food at the slightest excuse
pamper implies inordinate gratification of desire for luxury and comfort with consequent enervating effect.
    • pampered by the amenities of modern living
humor stresses a yielding to a person's moods or whims.
    • humored him by letting him tell the story
spoil stresses the injurious effects on character by indulging or pampering.
    • foolish parents spoil their children
baby suggests excessive care, attention, or solicitude.
    • babying students by grading too easily
mollycoddle suggests an excessive degree of care and attention to another's health or welfare.
    • refused to mollycoddle her malingering son

Learn More about humor

  1. See words that rhyme with humor Dictionary: Definition of humor Medical Dictionary: Definition of humor Spanish Central: Translation of humor Nglish: Translation of humor for Spanish speakers Britannica English: Translation of humor for Arabic speakers Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about humor

Seen and Heard

What made you want to look up humor? Please tell us where you read or heard it (including the quote, if possible).

show comments hide comments

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

WORD OF THE DAY

biannual

occurring twice a year or every two years

Get Word of the Day daily email!

TRENDING NOW

  1. Spartan Red Cross Warns of Shelter Conditions

  2. hirsute RIP Burt Reynolds

  3. op-ed NYT Publishes Anonymous Piece

  4. collegiality Kavanaugh Mentions Word in Hearing

  5. mistrial Manafort Guilty on 8 Counts

SEE ALL

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

Words at Play

Ask the Editors

Word Games