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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
The film’s blend of humor, supernatural elements and folklore struck a chord with audiences, paving the way for further exploration of the genre. Naman Ramachandran, Variety, 27 May 2025 The director’s observation of the mutable contracts between sisters, and even more so, fathers and daughters, is intensely affecting in a movie freighted with melancholy but also leavened by notes of surprising humor. David Rooney, HollywoodReporter, 24 May 2025
Verb
Superstars know when they’re being humored. Bruce Tulgan, Forbes, 18 Oct. 2024 There's the twangy Ratliff family − Timothy (Jason Isaacs), Victoria (Parker Posey), Saxon (Patrick Schwarzenegger), Piper (Sarah Catherine Hook) and Lachlan (Sam Nivola) − a North Carolinian dynasty humoring their daughter's interest in Buddhism. Kelly Lawler, USA TODAY, 17 Feb. 2025 See All Example Sentences for humor
Recent Examples of Synonyms for humor
Noun
  • Before a new hour of comedy hits a Netflix special, it’s been tested in dozens of clubs.
    Scott Hutcheson, Forbes.com, 30 May 2025
  • Kellett is a veteran television writer/producer and this 90-minute play has the look and feel of a TV comedy, with fast pacing, a steady flow of zinging one-liners, plenty of actor double-takes and eye rolls and a predictable happy ending.
    Pam Kragen, San Diego Union-Tribune, 30 May 2025
Noun
  • Vodka enthusiasts looking for a high-quality spirit that also supports LGBTQ+ causes.
    Lela London, Forbes.com, 1 June 2025
  • Let this lunation guide you toward experiences that ignite your spirit!
    Meghan Rose, Glamour, 1 June 2025
Noun
  • Automatic bids would provide a layer of protection for the blue bloods from the whims of a committee that uses an inscrutable process.
    Jon Wilner, Mercury News, 22 May 2025
  • The scope of these enormous solar storms is important to understand for technology experts in the 21st century, which is much more vulnerable to the whims of the sun due to society's dependence on electronic systems and space technologies.
    Tereza Pultarova, Space.com, 19 May 2025
Noun
  • The irony is suffocating: While the Romanian people ultimately made the right choice, the leadership of the United States—the very country that built and led the postwar liberal world order—was quietly rooting for the other side.
    MSNBC Newsweek, MSNBC Newsweek, 20 May 2025
  • That’s an irony of sorts for the festival, which is now produced by La Jolla’s Events.com and which counted Tony Hawk, Rob Machado and former San Diego Padres’ pitcher Trevor Hoffman among its initial backers and brand ambassadors.
    George Varga, San Diego Union-Tribune, 19 May 2025
Noun
  • Cutting satire ensues when the girl’s street-smart sister, who believes her sibling is being devoured whole by the 1 percent, intervenes to save her.
    Jessica Gelt, Los Angeles Times, 2 June 2025
  • In 1957, Horne starred in Jamaica, a hit Broadway satire that let a glamorous Black woman lead a musical—something rare then and now.
    Sonari Glinton, Forbes.com, 31 May 2025
Noun
  • And his aesthetic keeps pace with Brendan Mills’ excellent editing, in changing mood from the jittery, quick-cut, handheld first half to a steadier, more contemplative last act as Lu’s treks across the boroughs become longer and slower and exhaustion begins to set in.
    Jessica Kiang, Variety, 21 May 2025
  • The endorphins lifted my mood, and the physical challenge inspired me to rework my diet and make healthier choices.
    Brandi Watterson, Forbes.com, 21 May 2025
Noun
  • Coach, too, didn’t shy away from a little footwear playfulness at New York Fashion Week last year, for which the brand’s Soho Sneaker was introduced to childlike whimsy — by way of prominent charms taking up prime real estate on the shoe’s upper and, understandably, attracting all the attention.
    Stacia Datskovska, Footwear News, 29 May 2025
  • Affirmation, though, Kore-eda would warn, is not an affect of whimsy, it must be aged and earned, not wished or projected.
    Ritesh Mehta, IndieWire, 20 May 2025
Verb
  • Their admirably robust menu indulges coastal cravings via seasonal oysters and Gulf shrimp while appeasing land lovers with steakhouse favorites and handmade pastas.
    Lisa Cericola, Southern Living, 26 May 2025
  • This multicultural circus indulges the racial stereotyping that should be Hwang’s subject.
    Armond White, National Review, 21 May 2025

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Cite this Entry

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

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