joker

noun

ˈjō-kər How to pronounce joker (audio)
Definition of jokernext
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
as in guy
an adult male human being sat at the bar next to some poor joker who had just lost his job

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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

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 joker Clooney might be known as the joker of the two. — Stephanie Sengwe, PEOPLE, 22 May 2026 Like any public hearing, there were a few jokers who had some strange outbursts, but the majority of the over a dozen speakers weren’t satisfied with Gower’s presentation and used their times to ask questions of the owners as to what has taken so long with this project. — Brian Welk, IndieWire, 12 May 2026 The American version of the game uses a yearly card with specific winning hands and includes joker tiles. — Doris Alvarez Cea, Florida Times-Union, 9 May 2026 The 69-year-old joker plans to make his comeback at California’s Ice House Comedy Club in Pasadena Wednesday night. — Brian Niemietz, New York Daily News, 29 Apr. 2026 See All Example Sentences for joker
Recent Examples of Synonyms for joker
  1. comedian
  2. clown
  3. guy
  4. hitch
  5. jerk
  6. male
  7. risk
  8. dog
Noun
  • From Mike Birbiglia as a farcical cop to a bouncer at a Greenpoint club played by Ziwe, New York comedians abound.
    — Alex Jhamb Burns, Condé Nast Traveler, 7 Aug. 2026
  • The author and comedian, who was wrongfully convicted of the 2007 murder of Meredith Kercher, has responded after a petition to cancel her Edinburgh Festival Fringe show Cartwheel surpassed 10,000 signatures.
    — Glenn Garner, Deadline, 7 Aug. 2026
Definition of comedian
Noun
  • An Illinois teen has been charged with first-degree murder after allegedly committing a deadly stabbing attack while dressed in a clown outfit.
    — Nadine El-Bawab, ABC News, 7 Aug. 2026
  • Tyquan Thornton Tyquan Thornton is not only known for being a speedster, with one of the fastest combine times in history, but a class clown as well.
    — Kansas City Star, Kansas City Star, 5 Aug. 2026
Definition of clown
Noun
  • More than a few people believe that, despite the messy route to get there, Penn State landed on the right guy.
    — Dana O’Neil, CNN Money, 14 Aug. 2026
  • These guys might do much of the unglamorous work that goes unnoticed, breaking up play, playing short passes and sliding across into position to snuff out counter-attacks, but their role is highly valued in the transfer market.
    — Anantaajith Raghuraman, New York Times, 13 Aug. 2026
Definition of guy
Noun
  • Sale appeared to have a slight hitch in his leg before starting his motion when he was called for his third career balk.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 8 Aug. 2026
  • Rookie cornerback Chris Johnson had a line-of-scrimmage tackle on a quick hitch to Malik Washington.
    — Omar Kelly August 6, Miami Herald, 6 Aug. 2026
Definition of hitch
Noun
  • That screwed up the works / And not due to his sloppy hiring / Of a crew of incompetent jerks.
    — Voice of the People, New York Daily News, 6 Aug. 2026
  • Kris and Billy watch that one together in an intimate sleepover, sinking into the murky texture of a scene in which the virginal actor allowed a jerk to take off her clothes.
    — Amy Nicholson, Los Angeles Times, 6 Aug. 2026
Definition of jerk
Noun
  • If their creations are deemed visually appealing, the males win the ultimate prize — mating privileges.
    — Dina Cheney, Washington Post, 8 Aug. 2026
  • The two females are Amaura and Anorith, while the sole male is Archen.
    — Finnegan Belleau, Chicago Tribune, 7 Aug. 2026
Definition of male
Noun
  • The high risk of – and challenges of addressing – oil spills and other safety incidents in the hostile Arctic climate are another dissuading factor, as are environmental costs of operating there.
    — Simone McCarthy, CNN Money, 14 Aug. 2026
  • Overnight a shift in wind direction raised the risk that the flames could reach Gey by morning, prompting officials to order the initial evacuation.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 14 Aug. 2026
Definition of risk
Noun
  • Queen Victoria and her husband, Prince Albert, had a number of dogs throughout their life.
    — Audrey Schmidt, PEOPLE, 9 Aug. 2026
  • Things get increasingly bleak, as the family dog’s heart medicine runs out and Jason has to put him out of his misery, and then — in doomsday prepper mode — carves up the body and puts it in the freezer just in case food gets dire.
    — William Earl, Variety, 8 Aug. 2026
Definition of dog

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Cite this Entry

“Joker.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/joker. Accessed 14 Aug. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on joker

Nglish: Translation of joker for Spanish Speakers

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about joker

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