Synonyms of jocular

jocular

adjective

ˈjä-kyə-lər 

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

Synonyms & Similar Words

• humorous
• witty
• clever
• funny
• facetious
• playful
• joking
• amusing
• smart
• comical
• cerebral
• mischievous
• comic
• jovial
• ridiculous
• hysterical
• entertaining
• highbrow
• frivolous
• intellectual
• jocose
• teasing
• farcical
• riotous
• merry
• mirthful
• ludicrous
• uproarious
• jolly
• laughing
• antic
• jesting
• droll
• rollicking
• flippant
• laughable
• bantering
• waggish
• joshing
• risible
• whimsical
• prankish
• screaming
• sidesplitting
• jocund
• highbrowed
• sunny
• sparkling
• diverting
• flip
• smart-aleck
• pert
• smart-alecky
• scintillating

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• stupid
• lowbrow
• witless
• brainless
• lame
• hackneyed
• corny
• serious
• humorless
• solemn
• somber
• earnest
• unfunny
• hackney
• sober
• grave
• serious-minded
• unamusing
• plaintive
• doleful
• tearful
• dolorous
• lachrymose
• sorry
• woeful
• uncomic

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

Synonyms & Similar Words

• merry
• jolly
• festive
• cheerful
• jovial
• witty
• jocose
• mirthful
• laughing
• funny
• lively
• humorous
• gleeful
• playful
• sunny
• blithe
• amused
• joyful
• amusing
• jocund
• happy
• smiling
• blithesome
• joking
• bright
• gay
• spirited
• lighthearted
• delighted
• upbeat
• cheery
• flippant
• carefree
• exuberant
• buoyant
• joyous
• animated
• jaunty
• facetious
• sprightly
• ecstatic
• vivacious
• hilarious
• chipper
• jubilant
• perky
• frisky
• giggling
• exultant
• peppy
• blissful
• rapturous
• comical
• easygoing
• optimistic
• euphoric
• chuckling
• frolicsome
• sportive
• bouncing
• comic
• cavalier
• radiant
• insouciant
• jesting
• high
• farcical
• riotous
• zippy
• enraptured
• uproarious
• hopeful
• unconcerned
• joshing
• sanguine
• beaming
• antic
• lightsome
• rosy
• blessed
• gladsome
• happy-go-lucky
• exhilarated
• sprightful
• elated
• thrilled
• tickled
• overjoyed
• sidesplitting
• devil-may-care
• ravished
• entranced

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• melancholy
• sad
• blue
• sorrowful
• unhappy
• aggrieved
• anguished
• abject
• glum
• depressed
• dispirited
• downcast
• forlorn
• disconsolate
• despondent
• dejected
• crying
• crestfallen
• wailing
• weeping
• saddened
• moody
• lugubrious
• disheartened
• heartbroken
• disgruntled
• mournful
• brokenhearted
• plaintive
• doleful
• discontented
• sobbing
• somber
• dolorous
• low-spirited
• sorry
• joyless
• black
• dark
• gloomy
• lachrymose
• sullen
• gray
• morose
• heartsick
• woeful
• heavyhearted
• bleak
• cheerless
• depressing
• downhearted
• saturnine
• dismal
• dreary
• moaning
• desolate
• miserable
• groaning
• comfortless
• woebegone
• dull
• wretched
• sluggish
• listless
• lethargic
• torpid

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

Recent Examples of jocular

The incomprehensibility of it all, of every awful thing wreaking havoc at once, has Gus in a state of jocular shock. —Amy Nicholson, Los Angeles Times, 5 June 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

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