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as in merry
indicative of or marked by high spirits or good humor the children at the library were charmed by the jocular storyteller

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Synonym Chooser

How is the word jocular distinct from other similar adjectives?

Some common synonyms of jocular are facetious, humorous, jocose, and witty. While all these words mean "provoking or intended to provoke laughter," jocular implies a usually habitual fondness for jesting and joking.

a jocular fellow

When can facetious be used instead of jocular?

Although the words facetious and jocular have much in common, facetious stresses a desire to produce laughter and may be derogatory in implying dubious or ill-timed attempts at wit or humor.

facetious comments

When might humorous be a better fit than jocular?

While the synonyms humorous and jocular are close in meaning, humorous applies broadly to anything that evokes usually genial laughter and may contrast with witty in suggesting whimsicality or eccentricity.

humorous anecdotes

How are the words jocose and facetious related as synonyms of jocular?

Jocose is somewhat less derogatory than facetious in suggesting habitual waggishness or playfulness.

jocose proposals

Where would witty be a reasonable alternative to jocular?

While in some cases nearly identical to jocular, witty suggests cleverness and quickness of mind.

a witty remark

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 jocular Could all this jocular, misogynistic vulgarity influence anybody? Helen Shaw, New Yorker, 4 Apr. 2025 For years, Marvel films worked this jocular-fantastic angle, in pointed contrast to the grimdark expectorations of their DC counterparts, who were drowning in a morass of runaway budgets and brooding slo-mo. Bilge Ebiri, Vulture, 14 Mar. 2025 His jocular reaction was priceless. Tim Ellis, Forbes, 9 Mar. 2025 Delle finally trilled, in an unreadably jocular voice. Daniel D'addario, Variety, 17 Feb. 2025 See All Example Sentences for jocular
Recent Examples of Synonyms for jocular
Adjective
  • The Jet2 vacation meme, which originally circulated on TikTok, repurposed the song Hold My Hand to show travel fails with a humorous twist.
    Billal Rahman, MSNBC Newsweek, 31 July 2025
  • The warm embrace of Shanks’ feature directorial debut has been so impactful that the New Zealand and Australia-raised YouTuber-turned-filmmaker has already started worrying about the comedown in humorous fashion.
    Brian Davids, HollywoodReporter, 30 July 2025
Adjective
  • The Lower East Side location is now home to Comal—a new, eclectic Mexican restaurant from chef Gaz Herbert, a Cuernavaca native—and the same downtown crowd seems to have found its merry way there.
    Air Mail, Air Mail, 19 July 2025
  • History doesn’t record whether this plea was met with a merry hail of fat envelopes or with silence.
    Daniel Seifert, JSTOR Daily, 16 July 2025
Adjective
  • This breezy placement thrives on intellectual stimulation, witty banter and an array of options.
    Valerie Mesa, People.com, 23 July 2025
  • Wee-hours talk shows have for decades operated on the premise that the hosts served as gentle entertainers who could help audiences go off to sleep after some light banter, witty conversation and a few celebrity encounters.
    Brian Steinberg, Variety, 18 July 2025
Adjective
  • Crosby released a number of tunes throughout his career that were made perfectly for the jolliest time of the year, and his wins are still coming his way, even decades after his passing.
    Hugh McIntyre, Forbes, 27 Dec. 2024
  • Instead of its usual jolly cartoons, the channel began broadcasting footage of Russian military parades accompanied by music of the Russian nationalist singer Oleg Gazmanov.
    Tereza Pultarova, Space.com, 7 Apr. 2025
Adjective
  • That includes clever storage and organizers, which are currently up to 70 percent off this month.
    Rylee Johnston, People.com, 27 July 2025
  • This is not just a clever design feature but a strategic sustainability solution.
    Matthew Kayser, USA Today, 26 July 2025
Adjective
  • Soft gingerbread cookies with a sugary crunch in festive fall packaging Club Pack Brownie Pumpkins: Fall-favorite Little Debbie Brownie Pumpkins will be available in a convenient 20-count Club Pack format.
    Meghan Overdeep, Southern Living, 30 July 2025
  • The Christmas showcase marks the first-ever live holiday shows in the United States for the British singer, who's led festive tours — including 2023's Christmas with Love Tour — through Europe.
    Stacy Lambe, People.com, 29 July 2025
Adjective
  • From the cast member who clocked my son’s pin collection–and then pointed out the hotel’s own trading station—to our cheerful server at the Lava Pool, who came equipped with sandwich recommendations, everyone was consistently helpful and attentive.
    Jacqui Gifford, Travel + Leisure, 21 July 2025
  • Olivia Burnette took the lead role as Dorothy Jane Torkelson, providing the show's cheerful voiceover narration.
    Tereza Shkurtaj, People.com, 20 July 2025
Adjective
  • The always jovial Loeb made a career out of calling it right and frequently calling it ahead of the pack.
    David Moin, Footwear News, 31 July 2025
  • But science is beginning to paint a less jovial picture.
    Anna McKie, Wired News, 30 July 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Jocular.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/jocular. Accessed 7 Aug. 2025.

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