1
as in comedian
a person (as a writer) noted for or specializing in humor
he's the joker of the family, always making us laugh
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2
as in clown
a person whose behavior is offensive to others
just ignore that joker and his rude comments
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
4
as in hitch
a danger or difficulty that is hidden or not easily recognized
read the contract carefully before signing to make sure there aren't any jokers
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of joker
Students are required to bring two full decks of cards including the jokers.
—
Kris Slugg, San Diego Union-Tribune, 27 Jan. 2026
Mas, though, does have a joker in his deck.
—Felipe Cardenas, New York Times, 23 Jan. 2026
Kenneth’s father Sven invented the joker lap, while the power couple’s two sons, Timmy and Kevin, are both accomplished offroad racers.
—James Morris, Forbes.com, 3 Jan. 2026
So Porter is now the guy the State Police have supposedly doing a deep dive on the clowns, grifters and assorted gender-bending jokers that Maura Healey hands six-figure hack sinecures to — judicial nominees, college presidents, the heads of the veterans’ homes, etc.
—Howie Carr, Boston Herald, 29 Nov. 2025
See All Example Sentences for joker
Kris Slugg, San Diego Union-Tribune, 27 Jan. 2026
Mas, though, does have a joker in his deck.
—Felipe Cardenas, New York Times, 23 Jan. 2026
Kenneth’s father Sven invented the joker lap, while the power couple’s two sons, Timmy and Kevin, are both accomplished offroad racers.
—James Morris, Forbes.com, 3 Jan. 2026
So Porter is now the guy the State Police have supposedly doing a deep dive on the clowns, grifters and assorted gender-bending jokers that Maura Healey hands six-figure hack sinecures to — judicial nominees, college presidents, the heads of the veterans’ homes, etc.
—Howie Carr, Boston Herald, 29 Nov. 2025
See All Example Sentences for joker
Recent Examples of Synonyms for joker
Noun
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The comedian was seen passing out pizza slices like flyers for a bringer show.—
Bethy Squires,
Vulture,
14 June 2026
-
English footballer Rio Ferdinand and American comedian Ian Karmel serve as cohosts on the show, which will broadcast new episodes several nights per week.—
Wesley Stenzel,
Entertainment Weekly,
13 June 2026
Noun
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Hints at the canonical Big Daddies of existential clown float through the air — Beckett would recognize this pair, and so would Jean Genet.—
Sara Holdren,
Vulture,
14 June 2026
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The comments section is filled with college football fans from all over the country calling the university's athletic department a bunch of clowns and hypocrites, but one Big 12 rival, the TCU Horned Frogs, put out a statement of their own in response to Tech's video.—
Austin Perry OutKick,
FOXNews.com,
12 June 2026
Noun
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When early goals by both teams were denied by offside calls, the aggrieved fans jeered and whistled — the equivalent of Chiefs fans booing pass interference against their guy.—
Blair Kerkhoff,
Kansas City Star,
17 June 2026
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What would a deal look like that would get some of these guys to Cleveland?—
Jim Bowden,
New York Times,
16 June 2026
Noun
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The automaker’s overhauled its entire operations from service to production to get R2 off the ground and into the mass-market arena without a hitch, according to the automaker’s CEO.—
Joel Feder,
The Drive,
10 June 2026
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Troopers say remember three things before hitting the road with a trailer or hitch.—
Brian Sherrod,
CBS News,
9 June 2026
Noun
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This Jamaican restaurant, located just off Main Street, brings Caribbean flavors to Mackinac Island’s solid rotation of restaurants, with planked whitefish and jerk chicken sandwiches.—
Iona Brannon,
Travel + Leisure,
13 June 2026
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After Game 4, jerks were throwing things at Victor Wembanyama.—
Voice of the People,
New York Daily News,
13 June 2026
Noun
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That is why sterile male releases interest some researchers.—
Kurt Knutsson,
FOXNews.com,
12 June 2026
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According to a San Francisco Police Department media release, on May 28, a male met up with a potential buyer to sell his Pokémon trading cards.—
Jazmin Alvarado,
Los Angeles Times,
12 June 2026
Noun
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The letter warns that those credits are now at risk of expiring, and argues that they should be made refundable or transferable.—
Gene Maddaus,
Variety,
19 June 2026
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His attorneys said his blood sugar levels were only checked once a month in the jail, putting him at risk of organ failure or even death.—
Landon Mion,
FOXNews.com,
19 June 2026
Noun
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The parasite has the cattle and dairy industry on edge, but in Mexico, screwworm has also been found in bears, pigs, goats, and even dogs and cats.—
John Lauritsen,
CBS News,
16 June 2026
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Marseille said the dog was always with her sister or nephew.—
Ruben Vives,
Los Angeles Times,
16 June 2026
Cite this Entry
“Joker.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/joker. Accessed 19 Jun. 2026.
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