Synonyms of humorous

humorous

adjective

ˈhyüm-rəs 

1

as in funny

causing or intended to cause laughter

the humorous moments in an otherwise somber affair

"most humorous costume" went to the girl dressed as Little Bo Peep

Synonyms & Similar Words

• funny
• comedic
• amusing
• comical
• comic
• entertaining
• hysterical
• ridiculous
• hilarious
• witty
• playful
• droll
• farcical
• uproarious
• ludicrous
• riotous
• humoristic
• laughable
• screaming
• antic
• chucklesome
• sidesplitting
• risible
• killing
• zany
• flippant
• slapstick
• merry
• clownish
• jocular
• whimsical
• facetious
• wry
• laughing
• waggish
• jokey
• diverting
• flip
• jovial
• slapsticky
• jolly
• mirthful
• smart
• campy
• jocose
• knockabout
• rich
• gleeful
• smart-alecky
• priceless
• smart-aleck
• pert
• mad
• jocund
• snickery
• blithesome

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• serious
• lame
• humorless
• earnest
• solemn
• somber
• severe
• poignant
• tragic
• unfunny
• sober
• unamusing
• grave
• staid
• sedate
• unsmiling
• weighty
• unhumorous
• moving
• touching
• unhysterical
• sad
• uncomic
• affecting
• no-nonsense
• sorrowful
• mournful
• tearful
• sobersided
• woeful
• lachrymose

2

as in witty

given to or marked by mature intelligent humor

the movie's a humorous look at love and marriage

Synonyms & Similar Words

• witty
• clever
• funny
• jocular
• playful
• facetious
• amusing
• joking
• smart
• comical
• entertaining
• comic
• mischievous
• cerebral
• ridiculous
• hysterical
• frivolous
• droll
• intellectual
• farcical
• jovial
• teasing
• highbrow
• uproarious
• ludicrous
• laughing
• riotous
• laughable
• mirthful
• whimsical
• merry
• antic
• rollicking
• jolly
• flippant
• jocose
• risible
• sidesplitting
• jesting
• bantering
• waggish
• prankish
• screaming
• joshing
• highbrowed
• sparkling
• flip
• sunny
• diverting
• jocund
• scintillating
• smart-alecky
• smart-aleck
• pert

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• stupid
• lowbrow
• lame
• witless
• corny
• brainless
• hackneyed
• serious
• humorless
• unfunny
• somber
• solemn
• earnest
• hackney
• sober
• grave
• serious-minded
• unamusing
• doleful
• plaintive
• tearful
• sorry
• dolorous
• woeful
• lachrymose
• uncomic

Synonym Chooser

How is the word humorous distinct from other similar adjectives?

Some common synonyms of humorous are facetious, jocose, jocular, and witty. While all these words mean "provoking or intended to provoke laughter," humorous applies broadly to anything that evokes usually genial laughter and may contrast with witty in suggesting whimsicality or eccentricity.

humorous anecdotes

In what contexts can facetious take the place of humorous?

While the synonyms facetious and humorous are close in meaning, facetious stresses a desire to produce laughter and may be derogatory in implying dubious or ill-timed attempts at wit or humor.

facetious comments

How are the words jocose and facetious related as synonyms of humorous?

Jocose is somewhat less derogatory than facetious in suggesting habitual waggishness or playfulness.

jocose proposals

When might jocular be a better fit than humorous?

The synonyms jocular and humorous are sometimes interchangeable, but jocular implies a usually habitual fondness for jesting and joking.

a jocular fellow

When is witty a more appropriate choice than humorous?

Although the words witty and humorous have much in common, witty suggests cleverness and quickness of mind.

a witty remark

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of humorous

His after-game interviews were always intelligent and sometimes humorous. — Los Angeles Times, 4 July 2026

Formula 1 driver Pierre Gasly joined Lacoste ambassador and actor Pierre Niney for the humorous promotional film, produced by Niney’s production company. — Miles Socha, Footwear News, 29 June 2026

Today, the Himalayan blackberry stands as a humorous rejection of Burbank’s attempt at complete human control. — The Editors, JSTOR Daily, 25 June 2026

When those insights as well as the vintage photos, performances and additional interviews with Steve Martin and more about Asher get combined with the 82-year-old’s own wispy, sometimes humorous accounts create a rich 60-year tapestry on the history of a swath of rock music. — Randy Myers, Mercury News, 24 June 2026