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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 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 Listen to this article Nikola Jokic rolled up in the Joker’s suit, then performed like a court jester. Bennett Durando, Denver Post, 10 May 2025 See All Example Sentences for jester
Recent Examples of Synonyms for jester
Noun
  • Global organization Human Rights Watch accused the festival of diverting attention away from allegations of the government’s severe repression of free speech and criticized comedians for performing on the behest of an oppressive regime.
    Anthony Robledo, USA Today, 4 Oct. 2025
  • The comedian and podcast host performed a stand-up set at the Beacon Theater in New York on Saturday, and attendees reported that a large chunk of the audience walked out during an apparently tumultuous set.
    Ethan Shanfeld, Variety, 3 Oct. 2025
Noun
  • The documentary shows a video that was uploaded to TikTok of Valencia fans chanting at Vinicius Jr, with the transcription as ‘mono’ (monkey) rather than ‘tonto’ (fool).
    Guillermo Rai, New York Times, 30 Sep. 2025
  • Don’t let its compact size fool you, though.
    Jordyn Burrell, Travel + Leisure, 28 Sep. 2025
Noun
  • More than a decade later, the series continues to reimagine American histories and channel primal fears — from clowns and cults, to witches and ghosts — with each installment cloaked in social commentary and camp.
    James Mercadante, Entertainment Weekly, 1 Oct. 2025
  • But that won't ease the fears of anyone who categorizes clowns as monsters.
    Marci Robin, Allure, 1 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 8 Oct. 2025.

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