1
as in jokes
something said or done to cause laughter
laughed politely at his feeble jest about his pet mosquito
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2
as in pranks
a playful or mischievous act intended as a joke
putting a mouse in her desk drawer was intended to be a harmless jest
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3
as in fools
a person or thing that is made fun of
his outlandish costumes made him the jest of the town
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in quips
to make jokes
when I asked my sister for a loan, she laughingly replied, "Surely you jest!"
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Recent Examples of jests
Usa Today, USA Today, 9 Nov. 2025
Noun
Be sure that your jests don’t become insults!
—Usa Today, USA Today, 9 Nov. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for jests
Noun
-
And every family has that annoying uncle that makes horrible jokes or one situation after another.—
Lexi Lane,
PEOPLE,
18 Apr. 2026
-
The pages restate themes and jokes, the same words on many pages, each with little iterations.—
Adam Moss,
Vulture,
17 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
Of course, the pranks are all in good fun, with owners keeping things safe and playful.—
Kendall Malinchock,
USA Today,
1 Apr. 2026
-
According to a 2025 roundup of April Fools’ food promotions by the New York Post, several national brands followed Dunkin’s lead by offering tangible rewards instead of traditional pranks.—
Amanda Greenwood,
MSNBC Newsweek,
1 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
Wonder even did an impression of Murphy’s impression of him, which received big laughs from the crowd.—
John Ross,
Vanity Fair,
19 Apr. 2026
-
While at my pool cabana, our private butler even connected us to another like-minded visiting family, which resulted in unexpectedly great conversation and laughs.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
17 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Jests.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/jests. Accessed 26 Apr. 2026.
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