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
Moments like these can definitely seem overwrought (and humor-wise, Moretti should probably refrain from the Viagra jokes), but they’re also handled with a fair amount of tongue-in-cheek tact despite some of the unbelievable circumstances. — Jordan Mintzer, HollywoodReporter, 5 Sep. 2026 And yes, there’s a lot of pulling faces and funny jokes and shiny costumes, but not much technique. — Graham Womack, Sacbee.com, 5 Sep. 2026
Verb
Her bed is Amal’s haven after a long day’s work, where the two can joke, watch TV, and relax in unaffected warmth. — Jay Weissberg, Variety, 4 Sep. 2026 The singer recently joked about the prop during a show where her grandmother, affectionately known as Nana, was in the audience. — Lily Brown, PEOPLE, 3 Sep. 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
  • When Jenn and Emily return, Shannon tries to cut the tension by talking about jarred pizza sauce (the only real laugh-out-loud moment of the episode), but there’s no salvaging this night.
    — Louis Peitzman, Vulture, 11 Sep. 2026
  • Here, she’s matured as a well-rounded comedienne who can pull the stops for subtle approaches to laughs, and though the mugging is still evident, it’s only used for propitious moments.
    — Hank Grant, HollywoodReporter, 11 Sep. 2026
Definition of laugh
Noun
  • The show was a phenomenon that continues to inspire copycats and parodies; Hansen emerged as an icon for some, and a meme for others.
    — David Canfield, HollywoodReporter, 3 Sep. 2026
  • The reel — shot chin-first, uploaded at midnight — inspired countless parodies.
    — Omkar Khandekar, NPR, 2 Sep. 2026
Definition of parody
Noun
  • Set the scene Upon entering, don't let the grandiose, atrium-esque, white-marbled lobby fool you into thinking there's an ounce of formality or stuffiness here.
    — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 5 Sep. 2026
  • Anhor The Great had so many pass breakups that counting would’ve been a fool’s errand.
    — Caleb Otte, Los Angeles Times, 5 Sep. 2026
Definition of fool
Verb
  • What everyday skills should kids practice before the first week of school?
    — Ashley Lynch, Kansas City Star, 10 Aug. 2026
  • Running under the surface of the film is the anxiety that kids his age are lucky to secure any job, even one as low-paying and exploitative as Erika’s studio assistant.
    — Amy Nicholson, Los Angeles Times, 30 July 2026
Definition of kid
Verb
  • The Belgian talent’s move to dress Kidman for the premiere is the latest in a string of designers who have opted to tease their vision at a new fashion house through red carpet appearances ahead of the official reveal.
    — Amina Ayoud, Footwear News, 4 Sep. 2026
  • At the time, Earle only teased her potential response to Cooper, but has publicly remained mostly silent about the conflict until now.
    — Jodi Guglielmi, Rolling Stone, 4 Sep. 2026
Definition of tease
Noun
  • Indeed, at lunch, instead of separating into groups to eat, all 16 participants form one mega table and spend the half-hour joking and laughing together.
    — Ellise Shafer, Variety, 31 Aug. 2026
  • Many readers — some likely joking — shared their grievances with Elmo.
    — Brian Niemietz, New York Daily News, 28 Aug. 2026
Definition of joking
Noun
  • Jerry could easily be a caricature of a pretentious artiste stuck overseeing anonymous regional theater productions.
    — Bilge Ebiri, Vulture, 6 Sep. 2026
  • There’s no outrageous violence or unpleasant caricatures, and the 157-minute runtime feels breezy.
    — Declan Gallagher, Entertainment Weekly, 3 Sep. 2026
Definition of caricature
Noun
  • The technique uses reflected light from a laser popped at a target to see the molecular structure of a mineral, which in turn reveals the mineral's composition.
    — Elizabeth Howell, Space.com, 5 Sep. 2026
  • The system directs concentrated energy at a vulnerable part of an incoming object until the target is disabled or destroyed.
    — Atharva Gosavi, Interesting Engineering, 5 Sep. 2026
Definition of target

Phrases Containing joke

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jointures
joke
joked
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Cite this Entry

“Joke.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/joke. Accessed 14 Sep. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on joke

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about joke

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