joke 1 of 2

noun

ˈjōk How to pronounce joke (audio)
Definition of jokenext
1
as in laugh
something said or done to cause laughter he was known for his hilarious jokes

Synonyms & Similar Words

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2
as in parody
a poor, insincere, or insulting imitation of something her rendition of the national anthem is a joke

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in fool
a person or thing that is made fun of having lost his looks and his voice years ago, these days he's just a show business joke and fodder for late-night comedy

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

joke

2 of 2

verb

1
as in to fun
to make jokes he was known for his ability to joke about his lack of anything resembling a social life

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2
as in to tease
to make fun of in a good-natured way oh, don't get offended, I was just joking you

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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 joke
Noun
Hang on through an opening salvo of political jokes that elapsed time and Tuesday’s election results have rendered stale (Rudy Giuliani, anybody? — Yvonne Villarreal, Los Angeles Times, 6 Nov. 2026 It was called any and everything from a ‘Magic Mouse on wheels’ to a dishwasher or microwave, and even considered a late April Fool’s joke by some fans. — Mia Osmonbekov, Fortune, 6 Nov. 2026
Verb
A number of passengers have been arrested over the years for joking about having a bomb like a man did while checking his bag in Chicago in 2022. — ABC News, 28 Oct. 2026 Videos show bodies piled inside the vehicle while officers joked. — Antonio María Delgado, Miami Herald, 28 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for joke
Recent Examples of Synonyms for joke
  1. laugh
  2. parody
  3. fool
  4. kid
  5. tease
  6. joking
  7. caricature
  8. target
Noun
  • What really sets Black Doves apart, though, are its lovable characters and its beguiling mix of laughs and tears, which flirt with existential despair without ever fully tipping into it.
    — Angie Han, HollywoodReporter, 5 Nov. 2026
  • The two also shared a laugh over Lewis’ first impressions of the twins.
    — Angelique Brenes, PEOPLE, 4 Nov. 2026
Definition of laugh
Noun
  • And my parody of Ronald Reagan is now in the White House, right?
    — John Bleasdale, Variety, 31 Oct. 2026
  • The album’s experimental bent is also what keeps the music from slipping into parody or, even worse, po-faced sincerity.
    — Sadie Sartini Garner, Pitchfork, 30 Oct. 2026
Definition of parody
Noun
  • From the opening, we are meant to wonder if Morris is a fool, besotted with this older, somewhat odd, controlling woman that no one in the family likes.
    — John Warner, Chicago Tribune, 7 Nov. 2026
  • So to expect something dramatically different to immediately be forthcoming less than 10 games in largely would stand as a fool’s errand.
    — Ira Winderman, Sun Sentinel, 7 Nov. 2026
Definition of fool
Verb
  • Blake Shelton The 2017 honoree officially became stepdad to Gwen Stefani‘s kids Kingston, Zuma and Apollo in 2021.
    — Maria Yagoda, PEOPLE, 27 Oct. 2026
  • But kidding aside, AI used in the right way can make people smarter about their health, more so than most realize.
    — Amanda Gerut, Fortune, 13 Oct. 2026
Definition of kid
Verb
  • The change includes a new logo, as seen teased through her spring 2027 collection on the back of an artisanal white jacket along with updating its website and url to reflect the new name.
    — Emily Mercer, Footwear News, 12 Nov. 2026
  • The fest had previously teased Bridgers’ announcement on social media with imagery of the ghost on the cover of the artist’s Stranger in the Alps album in cornfields and hanging out with concertgoers at the fest.
    — Kory Grow, Rolling Stone, 11 Nov. 2026
Definition of tease
Noun
  • As the audience applauded, Stewart launched into his joking eulogy.
    — Shania Russell, Entertainment Weekly, 29 Oct. 2026
  • Russell was mentioned in that speech, but in a joking way, playing off of how frequent Oscars director Glenn Weiss, who won for his role helming the 2018 Academy Awards telecast, had used his speech to propose to his then-girlfriend.
    — Hilary Lewis, HollywoodReporter, 9 Oct. 2026
Definition of joking
Noun
  • The other three actors opposite this lead figure thrive on seemingly inexhaustible energy slipping in and out of dozens of lightning-fast quirky caricatures.
    — Christopher Smith, Oc Register, 6 Nov. 2026
  • Players wore T-shirts with that number and a caricature of Nugent-Hopkins on it.
    — CBS News, CBS News, 4 Nov. 2026
Definition of caricature
Noun
  • So, pitchers across MLB will have the unenviable task of planning their offseason buildup without the clarity of an opening-day target.
    — Maddie Lee, Los Angeles Times, 13 Nov. 2026
  • The secret sauce to Wavves’ strongest material has always been a healthy dose of self-loathing; imagine one of those devilish Calvin-pissing-on-the-ground car decals, with a weary doppelganger as the stream’s target.
    — Larry Fitzmaurice, Pitchfork, 13 Nov. 2026
Definition of target

Phrases Containing joke

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joke
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Cite this Entry

“Joke.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/joke. Accessed 13 Nov. 2026.

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Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about joke

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