as in joking
marked by or expressive of mild or good-natured teasing
made jesting comments about my need for serious fashion advice
Synonyms & Similar Words
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as in joke
good-natured teasing or exchanging of clever remarks
lots of laughter and elbow-nudging jesting at family reunions
Synonyms & Similar Words
as in bantering
to make jokes
when I asked my sister for a loan, she laughingly replied, "Surely you jest!"
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Recent Examples of jesting
Zoey Lyttle, PEOPLE, 18 May 2026
No matter what happened, Dunham could not seem to help posting through it, her public persona one of infinite jesting confession.
—Madeline Leung Coleman, Vulture, 14 Apr. 2026
Any amount of singing or jesting will be heard by all.
—Kansas City Star, 24 Mar. 2026
Language There’s some crude language, jesting, and mature comedic themes, but but nothing the modern tween or teen hasn’t seen or heard before.
—Lynnette Nicholas, Parents, 8 Dec. 2025
Thomas Tracy, New York Daily News, 25 Feb. 2026
So much so that a cheeky George Clooney let loose a certain four-letter word while jesting about a fellow actor.
—Kimi Robinson, USA Today, 10 Jan. 2026
Noun
Hudson showed some subtle support for the jesting knocks to her boyfriend by reposting a clip of his final joke shared on Fox News' official X page.
—Zoey Lyttle, PEOPLE, 18 May 2026
No matter what happened, Dunham could not seem to help posting through it, her public persona one of infinite jesting confession.
—Madeline Leung Coleman, Vulture, 14 Apr. 2026
Any amount of singing or jesting will be heard by all.
—Kansas City Star, 24 Mar. 2026
Language There’s some crude language, jesting, and mature comedic themes, but but nothing the modern tween or teen hasn’t seen or heard before.
—Lynnette Nicholas, Parents, 8 Dec. 2025
Verb
Mamdani has said nobody should throw snowballs at cops — jesting that the public should throw them at him instead — but does not see it as a criminal matter.
—Thomas Tracy, New York Daily News, 25 Feb. 2026
So much so that a cheeky George Clooney let loose a certain four-letter word while jesting about a fellow actor.
—Kimi Robinson, USA Today, 10 Jan. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for jesting
Adjective
-
Every post is something sarcastic about what other investors are doing and saying.—
Josh Brown,Sean Russo,
CNBC,
4 Dec. 2025
-
Muhammad responded with a sarcastic agreement.—
Fernando Quiles Jr,
MSNBC Newsweek,
20 Nov. 2025
Noun
-
Despite all of the excellent jokes, ultimately Night Night Fawn can be nothing other than a tragedy.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
11 June 2026
-
In casual conversation, it’s treated as a biological footnote, something between a quirk and a joke.—
Scott Travers,
Forbes.com,
11 June 2026
Verb
-
Ray studied at the University of Evansville, and Melynda typed his essays for him, joking that the A’s were partly hers.—
Adeline Goss,
New Yorker,
11 June 2026
-
Burke wasn’t joking, and quickly whisked Shimada up into a whirlwind of preparation on trying to sell Boise to the visiting entourage that included Japanese FA Director Naoki Tsumura.—
Shaun Goodwin
June 8,
Idaho Statesman,
8 June 2026
Noun
-
Thank you Brian Tarantina for sharing in all of the laughs.—
Liza Esquibias,
PEOPLE,
11 Dec. 2025
-
And there are several clips that show how happy the couple seem, even one in which Emma slaps Charlie while in flagrante delicto, and the pair laugh in the shock of the moment.—
Mekishana Pierre,
Entertainment Weekly,
10 Dec. 2025
Noun
-
And The Rest Is Football(Netflix, YouTube) is the latest podcast to make the leap to the small screen, with former England internationals Gary Lineker, Alan Shearer, and the ever-chuckling Micah Richards serving up a daily helping of World Cup analysis alongside the usual chummy banter.—
Jon O'Brien,
Vulture,
10 June 2026
-
Their tart banter in the Netflix hit doesn't rise to the toxic levels of their Roses relationship; in fact, the characters’ relationship ends on a more bittersweet and reflective note, as opposed to the movie’s grim comeuppance.—
Jesse Hassenger,
Entertainment Weekly,
1 June 2026
Noun
-
The action flows, the badinage is fast and fun.—
Owen Gleiberman,
Variety,
28 Aug. 2025
Noun
-
At the heart of this very British invasion’s appeal, beyond the revelatory historical detail and sharp insights, is the friendship and repartee between the two hosts.—
Sean Woods,
Rolling Stone,
25 May 2026
-
That’s welcome repartee at any age, much less at Fangio’s 67.—
Brooks Kubena,
New York Times,
22 May 2026
Noun
-
The humorous joshing and teasing that came out of their initial love just gets worse and worse.—
H. Alan Scott,
MSNBC Newsweek,
20 Aug. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Jesting.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/jesting. Accessed 18 Jun. 2026.
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