Synonyms of joking

joking 1 of 3

adjective

as in kidding

marked by or expressive of mild or good-natured teasing

grinned and gave him a joking nudge with my elbow

Synonyms & Similar Words

• kidding
• sarcastic
• jesting
• bantering
• joshing
• razzing
• mocking
• quizzical
• fooling
• ribbing
• rallying
• funning
• chaffing
• ridiculing
• derisive
• taunting
• baiting
• heckling
• quipping
• jeering
• needling
• bandying
• contemptuous
• derisory
• scornful
• deriding
• hassling
• disdainful

joking

2 of 3

noun

as in jesting

Related Words

• jesting
• funning
• nonsense
• clowning
• tomfoolery
• horseplay
• buffoonery
• childishness
• skylarking
• roughhousing
• foolishness
• clownishness
• silliness
• high jinks
• monkeying
• monkey business
• clownery
• slapstick
• roughhouse
• foolery
• horsing around
• shenanigan(s)
• waggery
• monkeyshine(s)
• boisterousness
• rowdiness
• rowdyism
• trickery
• rambunctiousness
• roguishness
• frivolity
• playfulness
• rumbustiousness
• prankishness
• rascality
• frolicking
• merrymaking
• revelry
• cavorting
• mischievousness
• sporting
• romping
• mischief
• impishness
• devilry
• roistering
• roguery
• gamboling
• knavery
• sportiveness

joking

3 of 3

verb

present participle of joke

1

as in funning

to make jokes

he was known for his ability to joke about his lack of anything resembling a social life

Synonyms & Similar Words

• kidding
• funning
• teasing
• jesting
• amusing
• bantering
• mocking
• quipping
• fooling
• joshing
• jollying
• wisecracking
• yukking
• jiving
• entertaining
• ridiculing
• chaffing
• japing
• gagging
• jeering
• ribbing
• razzing
• cracking wise
• parodying
• ragging
• rallying
• hazing
• satirizing
• caricaturing
• lampooning
• gibing
• diverting

2

as in teasing

to make fun of in a good-natured way

oh, don't get offended, I was just joking you

Synonyms & Similar Words

• kidding
• teasing
• razzing
• joshing
• ribbing
• roasting
• jiving
• chaffing
• bantering
• riding
• jesting
• rallying
• goofing on
• funning
• taking the mickey out of
• fooling
• quipping
• wisecracking
• stringing along
• jollying
• yukking
• japing
• gagging

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of joking

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

Arch Manning's joking comments at a news conference about a fake video of coach Steve Sarkisian slapping ESPN reporter Holly Rowe erupted in controversy. — ABC News, 17 Sep. 2026

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

Back in December 1968, Dolan wrote a joking column about the earlier Lake Worth monster, from way back in 1947. — Star-Telegram Staff, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 10 July 2026

Oh, but the Padres manager was ready with the joking last night. — Kevin Acee, San Diego Union-Tribune, 21 June 2026

Still, Yoon’s joking somehow lightens the mood. — Literary Hub, 11 June 2026

Verb

Stick it out through the trollish one-liners and half-joking ennui, and a galvanizing abundance grindset emerges. — Hattie Lindert, Pitchfork, 5 Nov. 2026

Stewart concluded by joking that his final act of objetophilia had taken place in the very theater where the gala was being held, much to the audience’s dismay and amusement. — Shania Russell, Entertainment Weekly, 29 Oct. 2026

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

Naturally, Roan brought her signature candor and wit to the performance, joking around with fans in the audience. — Nicole Fell, HollywoodReporter, 23 Oct. 2026

From the Polar Prince, Dawood watched Shahzada joking with Hamish — the pair had become friends. — Julia Buckley, CNN Money, 13 Oct. 2026

The photos went viral and inspired memes, with social media users joking that Affleck's exasperated expression summed up the frustrations of 2020. — Ashley Hume, FOXNews.com, 12 Oct. 2026

Unless the industry in question is peak grunge, Fox is joking. — Josh Crutchmer, Rolling Stone, 3 Oct. 2026

Even Reddit users joined in the discussion, joking about being too old to qualify. — Tatiana Sataua, Fortune, 1 Oct. 2026