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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Recent Examples of jocular
Bini, whose jocular banter is only upended by his ability to carefully listen and practically intervene, helps people struggling with fertility as well as with their gender transition.
—
Ritesh Mehta, IndieWire, 31 Jan. 2025
The interviews were jocular, an approach that seemed tactless, given the film’s subject matter.
—Doreen St. Félix, The New Yorker, 13 Jan. 2025
But series creator and director Joe Barton paired back many of the most horrific details of the true story, instead imbuing Black Doves with a surprisingly warm, witty, and jocular tone despite the material.
—Declan Gallagher, EW.com, 13 Dec. 2024
Bini, whose jocular banter is only upended by his ability to carefully listen and practically intervene, helps people struggling with fertility as well as with their gender transition.
—Ritesh Mehta, IndieWire, 31 Jan. 2025
See All Example Sentences for jocular
Ritesh Mehta, IndieWire, 31 Jan. 2025
The interviews were jocular, an approach that seemed tactless, given the film’s subject matter.
—Doreen St. Félix, The New Yorker, 13 Jan. 2025
But series creator and director Joe Barton paired back many of the most horrific details of the true story, instead imbuing Black Doves with a surprisingly warm, witty, and jocular tone despite the material.
—Declan Gallagher, EW.com, 13 Dec. 2024
Bini, whose jocular banter is only upended by his ability to carefully listen and practically intervene, helps people struggling with fertility as well as with their gender transition.
—Ritesh Mehta, IndieWire, 31 Jan. 2025
See All Example Sentences for jocular
Recent Examples of Synonyms for jocular
Adjective
-
There were humorous moments amid the writers’ accounts of tragedy.—
Rebecca Plevin,
Los Angeles Times,
26 Apr. 2025
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When the slasher eventually appears, stealing the group’s car before murdering them with a humorous bluntness, there is also a real atmosphere of dread.—
Lovia Gyarkye,
HollywoodReporter,
24 Apr. 2025
Adjective
-
Sister Mary Guadalupe wears rimless glasses, and her eyes are shaped like a merry jack-o’-lantern’s, flat on the bottom with semicircles on top.—
Lawrence Wright,
The New Yorker,
10 Feb. 2025
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Women deserve their own places at the top, and if that means more women are founding companies, the more, the merrier.—
Liz Elting,
Forbes.com,
9 Apr. 2025
Adjective
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Put all those elements together, and the show remained fun and witty and insightful despite all of its darkness because viewers never got attached to any one character.—
Judy Berman,
Time,
24 Apr. 2025
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Deborah botches the presser that follows by refusing to respond to ageist, sexist questions with witty banter — a totally foreseeable scenario that Ava anticipated and prepared for, but Deborah tossed Ava’s jokes in the trash.—
Jessica M. Goldstein,
Vulture,
11 Apr. 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
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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
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The clever exploration of contrasts — marrying delicate fabrics, soft palettes, and masculine silhouettes — was the label’s unique formula for winning over fashion’s insiders, including powerhouse Moda Operandi.—
Angela Lei,
Forbes.com,
23 Apr. 2025
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The film follows 11-year-old Caroline (Johnson), a clever, sharp-eyed girl navigating a life of excitement and peril as a shoplifter with her mom Jocelyn (Williams).—
Matt Grobar,
Deadline,
22 Apr. 2025
Adjective
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Their friendship, and the longevity of working with Neil, made for a festive 7 a.m. start: coffee and makeup/hair in the kitchen while my parents watched our kid.—
Erin Allweiss,
Vogue,
22 Apr. 2025
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Get The Recipe 02 of 30 Christmas Eve Punch Warm spices, fresh winter citrus, and festive cranberries make this big-batch cocktail ready for the holiday season.—
Mary Shannon Wells,
Southern Living,
22 Apr. 2025
Adjective
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After congratulating the pregnant women, the husband and wife turn their attention to a cheerful Aisha.—
Angel Saunders,
People.com,
14 Apr. 2025
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The relaxed fit keeps it comfortable for all-day wear, and the sunny shade adds a cheerful touch to otherwise neutral travel basics.—
Becca Blond,
Travel + Leisure,
1 Apr. 2025
Adjective
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The Network Brass Winnie Landell (Helen Hunt) Photo: Courtesy of Max This network executive responsible for Late Night with Deborah Vance’s success is jovial yet mean in the way that only a woman who’s worked in Hollywood for too long and has seen way too much can be.—
Emma Specter,
Vogue,
25 Apr. 2025
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All that gnashing and suckling is old hat — as old as the burgundy fedora Jordan slips on when playing the more jovial of these brothers in arms.—
A.A. Dowd,
Rolling Stone,
17 Apr. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Jocular.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/jocular. Accessed 3 May. 2025.
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