1
as in humorous
given to or marked by mature intelligent humor
made the jocular observation that the best way to make a small fortune in the wine business is to start off with a large fortune
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in merry
indicative of or marked by high spirits or good humor
the children at the library were charmed by the jocular storyteller
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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Recent Examples of jocular
That’s because of her bright and jocular storytelling.
—
Mj Franklin, New York Times, 9 Oct. 2025
Modern American popular culture contains many jocular characters that resemble this folkloric bird, who is delightfully impervious to pain, from cartoon characters such as the Road Runner – an actual bird – to the foulmouthed, self-regenerating antihero Deadpool.
—Perin Gürel, The Conversation, 19 Aug. 2025
Indeed, comments immediately arose among fans — some jocular, some serious — that Starkey might be in line to take over in the Foos for Freese.
—Chris Willman, Variety, 18 May 2025
The film explicitly acknowledges that their sibling rivalry is very Thor and Loki, though the dynamic here is different with Wilson playing uptight preppy to Momoa’s jocular biker viking.
—A.a. Dowd, Vulture, 27 Feb. 2024
See All Example Sentences for jocular
Mj Franklin, New York Times, 9 Oct. 2025
Modern American popular culture contains many jocular characters that resemble this folkloric bird, who is delightfully impervious to pain, from cartoon characters such as the Road Runner – an actual bird – to the foulmouthed, self-regenerating antihero Deadpool.
—Perin Gürel, The Conversation, 19 Aug. 2025
Indeed, comments immediately arose among fans — some jocular, some serious — that Starkey might be in line to take over in the Foos for Freese.
—Chris Willman, Variety, 18 May 2025
The film explicitly acknowledges that their sibling rivalry is very Thor and Loki, though the dynamic here is different with Wilson playing uptight preppy to Momoa’s jocular biker viking.
—A.a. Dowd, Vulture, 27 Feb. 2024
See All Example Sentences for jocular
Recent Examples of Synonyms for jocular
Adjective
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Moses Moody went for a more humorous approach when remembering Macklin’s time around Golden State.—
Joseph Dycus,
Mercury News,
21 Feb. 2026
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By Jenny Lawson Jenny Lawson shares candid, humorous, and heartfelt strategies for navigating depression, anxiety, and ADHD while staying creative and resilient.—
Kait Hanson,
Southern Living,
21 Feb. 2026
Adjective
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What follows is Rockwell and his merry band of misfits on a madcap romp through a dystopian landscape for a showdown with the future’s artificial nemesis.—
Etan Vlessing,
HollywoodReporter,
15 Feb. 2026
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Amaryllis flowers and winter greenery make for a merry arrangement.—
Miranda Crowell,
Better Homes & Gardens,
11 Feb. 2026
Adjective
-
Jenna is confident, witty, and charming in her advances, but the night doesn’t lead anywhere romantic for them.—
Rafaela Bassili,
Vulture,
17 Feb. 2026
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The screenplay is being written by Sarah Heyward, known for her work on Girls and Nobody Wants This, two projects that have earned acclaim for their sharp, witty and emotionally honest writing.—
Ryan Brennan,
Miami Herald,
13 Feb. 2026
Adjective
-
While his jolly personality won him many friends at the top of the pyramid, his flock of ordinary Catholics saw only his other side.—
Voice of the People,
New York Daily News,
3 Feb. 2026
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The surviving kids begin to suspect something is up, but their attempts to appeal to this world’s sad excuses for adult supervision — a jolly mailman, a blank-faced nurse, and a talking train — just lead to more murders.—
Christian Zilko,
IndieWire,
23 Jan. 2026
Adjective
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From clever cleaning hacks to quick household fixes, this everyday appliance is a surprisingly helpful and versatile tool for a range of tasks.—
Kate Donovan,
Martha Stewart,
21 Feb. 2026
-
As to the famous fine line between stupid and clever, the stupidity and the cleverness are all but inextricable, and to the point.—
Television Critic,
Los Angeles Times,
20 Feb. 2026
Adjective
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If the brighter green hue the holiday is normally associated with isn't your vibe, this sage green mani with sparkly details looks seasonal and festive.—
Daisy Maldonado,
InStyle,
20 Feb. 2026
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These elevated plants can be styled year-round with festive ribbons, colorful stones, or subtle seasonal accents to match your porch vibe.—
Mariana Best,
Better Homes & Gardens,
19 Feb. 2026
Adjective
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What better way to celebrate all that is to come than with a colorful, cheerful manicure?—
Christina Perrier,
InStyle,
21 Feb. 2026
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Life underground is no longer the Pleasantville-like, cheerful place viewers first encountered in Season 1.—
Aramide Tinubu,
Variety,
20 Feb. 2026
Adjective
-
There was none of the usual jovial energy of this KU team, which entered Saturday riding an eight-game winning streak.—
Shreyas Laddha,
Kansas City Star,
14 Feb. 2026
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Since starting at the newspaper, Eaton has used his jovial spirit and thoughtful reporting skills to connect with people in the Harambee neighborhood on Milwaukee's north side.—
Kynala Phillips,
jsonline.com,
13 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Jocular.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/jocular. Accessed 22 Feb. 2026.
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