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as in fool
a person formerly kept in a royal or noble household to amuse with jests and pranks the king called for some much-needed entertainment from his jester

Synonyms & Similar Words

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 jester Jerry O'Connell and his daughters, Dolly and Charlie, have a good scream with twisted jesters at Universal Studios Hollywood's Halloween Horror Nights on Sept.5. Brendan Le, PEOPLE, 10 Sep. 2025 Pugs is dressed like a jester, poor kid. Jessica M. Goldstein, Vulture, 3 Sep. 2025 If there’s an argument for chucking reason to the wind and just enjoying the vibes, then the experimental musician Moses Sumney, as the jester Feste, is best at making it. Helen Shaw, New Yorker, 22 Aug. 2025 Though mean-spirited, the jester Rigoletto — Verdi’s hapless, vengeful hunchback — wins our hearts as the outsider whom a heartless world so often abuses. Mark Swed, Los Angeles Times, 3 June 2025 See All Example Sentences for jester
Recent Examples of Synonyms for jester
Noun
  • Thompson and Evangeline were married for over 10 years before the comedian filed for divorce in April 2022.
    Alyssa Davis, PEOPLE, 19 Oct. 2025
  • Last week, Zelda Williams, the daughter of late comedian Robin Williams, asked that people stop sending her AI videos of her father.
    Samantha Subin, CNBC, 17 Oct. 2025
Noun
  • Don’t let the success of KPop Demon Hunters at the box office fool you, Netflix is still Netflix.
    Bethy Squires, Vulture, 16 Oct. 2025
  • Sabonis and Zach LaVine are fringe All-Stars most seasons, Keegan Murray is a solid wing starter who shoots and defends, DeRozan can still get midrange buckets and shot-fake fools into heaps of fouls, and Malik Monk is electric in a sixth-man role.
    John Hollinger, New York Times, 10 Oct. 2025
Noun
  • Former Des Plaines officer Mike Albrecht recalled to NBC Chicago that when police were assigned to surveil Gacy after Piest's disappearance, the part-time clown would try to pal around with officers and invite them into his house.
    Jessica Sager, PEOPLE, 18 Oct. 2025
  • The girls are just as down to clown, coming up with funny drunk poses and faces.
    Alphonse Pierre, Pitchfork, 17 Oct. 2025
Noun
  • Learn more about management options and which food plants are most susceptible to this insect in our harlequin bug on vegetables web page.
    Miri Talabac, Baltimore Sun, 16 Apr. 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
Noun
  • The player’s winning cards were a 7, 8, 9, 10, jack, queen and a joker acting as a king — all in clubs.
    Helena Wegner, Sacbee.com, 24 Sep. 2025
  • If Payton doesn’t start shoving this offense through it, the joker’s on Broncos Country.
    Sean Keeler, Denver Post, 16 Sep. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Jester.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/jester. Accessed 23 Oct. 2025.

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