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 Patricia lined up Reese as a joker defender, which is a hybrid linebacker/edge rusher who can play on the edge or move inside to spy on the quarterback or contain opposing running backs. — Joe Reedy, Chicago Tribune, 13 Apr. 2026 After months bandying about the term joker to describe his team’s need for a matchup-threat pass-catcher, Sean Payton sat with the media at the NFL owners’ meetings in Palm Beach, Florida, last year and confirmed Denver had gotten its guy. — Luca Evans, Denver Post, 28 Mar. 2026 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 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
  • Not only the comedian’s helicopter mom Isabel Cancela — who’s a big part of his act — will be happy about this.
    — Madeleine Marr, Miami Herald, 17 July 2026
  • With 76,212 tickets sold for his July 17 show at Lincoln Financial Field, the stadium home of the Philadelphia Eagles, Gillis has broken the Guinness World Record for most tickets sold for a comedy show by a solo comedian.
    — Ethan Shanfeld, Variety, 17 July 2026
Definition of comedian
Noun
  • Perhaps most astonishingly, the movie manages to make creepy clowns — that shopworn trope — genuinely frightening again.
    — Declan Gallagher, Entertainment Weekly, 7 July 2026
  • The group demonstrated near the Washington Monument and was met by a few counter protestors, one of which played clown music throughout the majority of the demonstration.
    — Antonio Pequeño IV, Forbes.com, 4 July 2026
Definition of clown
Noun
  • How vital was Davey to what you guys were able to do in the ’80s?
    — Tim Britton, New York Times, 24 July 2026
  • Analyzing voter registrations and filing challenges has become a common move by conservative activists (like the guy who created ELLY) after the 2020 election.
    — Cassidy Alexander, AJC.com, 23 July 2026
Definition of guy
Noun
  • Their receiver’s probably never seen an actual hitch put into it.
    — Joel Feder, The Drive, 9 July 2026
  • Before every project hits the factory floor, a computer analysis calculates every cut and sorts out unforeseen hitches that can bring traditional projects to a halt such as conflicts between plumbing lines and bearing walls, Glenn said.
    — Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 7 July 2026
Definition of hitch
Noun
  • Led and inspired by Chef Wayne Sharpe, this fast Jamaican restaurant serves iconic island meals like jerk chicken, jerk shrimp, vegan jerk, pineapple plantains, rice and peas, and Jamaican patties.
    — Alexandra Phelps July 15, Miami Herald, 15 July 2026
  • Bates plans to expand that menu in the new brick-and-mortar restaurant, adding dishes like jerk catfish pasta and Louisiana Cajun cream sauce over dirty rice.
    — Joey Schamber, jsonline.com, 8 July 2026
Definition of jerk
Noun
  • Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth has recently announced that active duty male military personnel over age 30 will be screened annually for testosterone levels.
    — Nina Shapiro, Forbes.com, 18 July 2026
  • The case remained unsolved until evidence was reexamined in 2010, when investigators identified an unknown male’s DNA profile, but no match was found on the FBI’s Combined DNA Index System (CODIS), per the outlets.
    — Ingrid Vasquez, PEOPLE, 17 July 2026
Definition of male
Noun
  • Despite the heightened risk, commercial traffic continues to transit steadily through the Red Sea and the Strait, according to the UK Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO), which provides maritime security warnings and incident updates.
    — Billy Stockwell, CNN Money, 24 July 2026
  • Warned for decades Earthquake and engineering experts inside and outside of Venezuela had warned for decades about the country’s seismic risk and lobbied for earthquake-resistant construction practices.
    — Syra Ortiz-Blanes, Miami Herald, 24 July 2026
Definition of risk
Noun
  • On Saturday, rescue crews aided by dogs and detectors found signs of life, confirming that at least one survivor was still trapped beneath the rubble.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 19 July 2026
  • Most famously, in 1966 the trophy was found underneath a hedge by a dog called Pickles a week after thieves had taken it from Westminster Central Hall, London, following England’s victory.
    — Eduardo Tansley, New York Times, 19 July 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 24 Jul. 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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