jester

noun

ˈje-stər How to pronounce jester (audio)
Definition of jesternext
1
as in comedian
a person (as a writer) noted for or specializing in humor a gentle jester, the cartoonist more often tries to evoke a broad smile than a hearty guffaw

Synonyms & Similar Words

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2
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 Her fans come for the jester-like antics and spectacle onstage. — Lauren Giella, MSNBC Newsweek, 14 May 2026 On freedom of opinion, on freedom of the press, on freedom of satire, on jesters’ freedom. — ABC News, 2 Apr. 2026 No one wants to be a jester, debasing oneself for a more powerful person’s amusement. — Spencer Kornhaber, The Atlantic, 27 Mar. 2026 Handing the kingdom of SoFi over to the court jesters for a night is a feat worthy of celebration. — Deputy Entertainment, Los Angeles Times, 5 Mar. 2026 See All Example Sentences for jester
Recent Examples of Synonyms for jester
  1. comedian
  2. fool
  3. clown
  4. harlequin
  5. joker
Noun
  • Grown-up Jokes • Paul Baker’s friends include Roach, who’s played by the comedian Will Sennett.
    — Ben Rosenstock, Vulture, 28 Aug. 2026
  • Stand-up comedian Leanne Morgan stars as the titular character, while Johnston plays her brutally honest sister, Carol.
    — Yvonne Villarreal, Los Angeles Times, 28 Aug. 2026
Definition of comedian
Noun
  • But don’t let the cute style fool you—this look is super practical, too.
    — Kayla Becker, Travel + Leisure, 29 Aug. 2026
  • However, reinventing Beethoven at the Bowl, doing so following Dudamel and with little rehearsal time, could easily become a fool’s errand.
    — Classical Music Critic, Los Angeles Times, 27 Aug. 2026
Definition of fool
Noun
  • But my favorite Tim Curry performance will always be Pennywise, the clown in Tommy Lee Wallace’s 1990 miniseries adaptation of Stephen King’s It, which, compared to Andy Muschietti’s mega popular pair of films, is modest, even a little lame.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 28 Aug. 2026
  • Curry, who died Tuesday at 80, made a gleefully evil turn as a clown that sparked nightmares for legions of Gen X and millennial viewers that continue to haunt to this day.
    — Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 26 Aug. 2026
Definition of clown
Noun
  • Colorado potato beetles target potato plants, while harlequin beetles do damage to brassica family plants like kale, cauliflower, cabbage, and broccoli.
    — Alexandra Jones, The Spruce, 3 June 2026
  • For the event, Kaling donned a strapless Elie Saab gown covered in crystal embroidery, which included a harlequin pattern and a sheer skirt.
    — Hannah Malach, InStyle, 27 May 2026
Definition of harlequin
Noun
  • The jokers Toth and Jackson, bless them, keep things endearing and funny.
    — Amy Nicholson, Los Angeles Times, 19 Aug. 2026
  • At some point, all these jokers need to sit down and stop auditioning for attention long enough to actually do the jobs they were elected or appointed to do.
    — Rachel Marsden, Hartford Courant, 15 Aug. 2026
Definition of joker

Browse Nearby Words

jested
jester
jesters
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Cite this Entry

“Jester.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/jester. Accessed 30 Aug. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on jester

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about jester

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