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
Relevance
as in jesting
Related Words
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
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
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 joking
Mario Cortegana, New York Times, 20 Mar. 2026
Lindsay says that Jesse was serious about asking, but that the make-out would be a joking make-out.
—Brian Moylan, Vulture, 4 Mar. 2026
The women’s team declined their joking invitation and had to explain comments directed at them.
—Dave Hyde, Sun Sentinel, 28 Feb. 2026
The tiny macaque, born on July 26, is often spotted clutching a plush toy from IKEA and has melted hearts across the internet, inspiring a wave of comments from fans half-joking about booking flights to Japan to check on him.
—Joshua Mellin, Travel + Leisure, 27 Feb. 2026
Harry Styles is ready to do some late-night joking.
—Brendan Morrow, USA Today, 23 Feb. 2026
Written in a joking and contemptuous tone, the tweet would take on an indescribably morbid weight just five days later, when, at the behest of Governor Cláudio Castro, the Rio de Janeiro police carried out the deadliest massacre in the country’s history.
—Evandro Cruz Silva, The Dial, 10 Feb. 2026
Cole follows up with a joking request to appear on an interlude on the forthcoming project, then asks whether West could send him a care package of clothes — which West agrees to — before exiting the stage.
—Jessica Lynch, Billboard, 28 Dec. 2025
Our poll’s options include a joking reference to Dan Marino.
—Greg Cote
december 20, Miami Herald, 20 Dec. 2025
Andy Greene, Rolling Stone, 21 Apr. 2026
This is a serious fridge for people who aren’t joking about their wine collections.
—Emily Saladino, Bon Appetit Magazine, 17 Apr. 2026
Fermin, who has taken mask-rattling shots fairly frequently this season, was joking and talking with teammates after the game.
—Kevin Acee, San Diego Union-Tribune, 16 Apr. 2026
Einbinder committed to the bit, joking she was being called by a producer offstage and getting up to leave the stage as everyone around her laughed.
—Samantha Agate, Charlotte Observer, 15 Apr. 2026
But after the first year or so, the joking self-awareness had been replaced by earnest reviews of products sent gratis to the girls by skincare brands hoping for shout-outs.
—Literary Hub, 9 Apr. 2026
On March 27, Perry shared another Instagram carousel from a recent date night, joking about their age difference.
—Angelique Brenes, PEOPLE, 8 Apr. 2026
On the Wednesday episode of the New Heights podcast, Travis and his brother Jason Kelce were joking about Travis going back to college to play basketball in an interview with Jerrod Calhoun, head coach for the University of Cincinnati’s men's team.
—Kathleen Perricone, Entertainment Weekly, 2 Apr. 2026
According to these sources, regardless of previous misreporting (or joking by cast and/or crew), there was never an NC-17 (or a Skarsgård) cut of the film.
—Gustavo Turner, HollywoodReporter, 1 Apr. 2026
Noun
There was none of the usual laughing and joking.
—Mario Cortegana, New York Times, 20 Mar. 2026
Lindsay says that Jesse was serious about asking, but that the make-out would be a joking make-out.
—Brian Moylan, Vulture, 4 Mar. 2026
The women’s team declined their joking invitation and had to explain comments directed at them.
—Dave Hyde, Sun Sentinel, 28 Feb. 2026
The tiny macaque, born on July 26, is often spotted clutching a plush toy from IKEA and has melted hearts across the internet, inspiring a wave of comments from fans half-joking about booking flights to Japan to check on him.
—Joshua Mellin, Travel + Leisure, 27 Feb. 2026
Harry Styles is ready to do some late-night joking.
—Brendan Morrow, USA Today, 23 Feb. 2026
Written in a joking and contemptuous tone, the tweet would take on an indescribably morbid weight just five days later, when, at the behest of Governor Cláudio Castro, the Rio de Janeiro police carried out the deadliest massacre in the country’s history.
—Evandro Cruz Silva, The Dial, 10 Feb. 2026
Cole follows up with a joking request to appear on an interlude on the forthcoming project, then asks whether West could send him a care package of clothes — which West agrees to — before exiting the stage.
—Jessica Lynch, Billboard, 28 Dec. 2025
Our poll’s options include a joking reference to Dan Marino.
—Greg Cote
december 20, Miami Herald, 20 Dec. 2025
Verb
Liam keeps joking about it on Twitter.
—Andy Greene, Rolling Stone, 21 Apr. 2026
This is a serious fridge for people who aren’t joking about their wine collections.
—Emily Saladino, Bon Appetit Magazine, 17 Apr. 2026
Fermin, who has taken mask-rattling shots fairly frequently this season, was joking and talking with teammates after the game.
—Kevin Acee, San Diego Union-Tribune, 16 Apr. 2026
Einbinder committed to the bit, joking she was being called by a producer offstage and getting up to leave the stage as everyone around her laughed.
—Samantha Agate, Charlotte Observer, 15 Apr. 2026
But after the first year or so, the joking self-awareness had been replaced by earnest reviews of products sent gratis to the girls by skincare brands hoping for shout-outs.
—Literary Hub, 9 Apr. 2026
On March 27, Perry shared another Instagram carousel from a recent date night, joking about their age difference.
—Angelique Brenes, PEOPLE, 8 Apr. 2026
On the Wednesday episode of the New Heights podcast, Travis and his brother Jason Kelce were joking about Travis going back to college to play basketball in an interview with Jerrod Calhoun, head coach for the University of Cincinnati’s men's team.
—Kathleen Perricone, Entertainment Weekly, 2 Apr. 2026
According to these sources, regardless of previous misreporting (or joking by cast and/or crew), there was never an NC-17 (or a Skarsgård) cut of the film.
—Gustavo Turner, HollywoodReporter, 1 Apr. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for joking
Noun
-
No matter what happened, Dunham could not seem to help posting through it, her public persona one of infinite jesting confession.—
Madeline Leung Coleman,
Vulture,
14 Apr. 2026
-
Any amount of singing or jesting will be heard by all.—
Kansas City Star,
Kansas City Star,
24 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Just kidding, but that would’ve been awesome.—
Maggie Fremont,
Vulture,
17 Apr. 2026
-
The interviewer said that Phillips, 65, was not kidding.—
Meredith Kile,
PEOPLE,
14 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Since then, Earle has been teasing her response to Cooper online.—
Tabitha Parent,
PEOPLE,
20 Apr. 2026
-
Downey said, teasing the crowd that gave him a standing ovation during his entrance.—
Brian Truitt,
USA Today,
17 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
Peters then offered a sarcastic parting line and left the set.—
Ryan Brennan
April 15,
Miami Herald,
15 Apr. 2026
-
By contrast, Lillian’s counterpart and best friend is cast member and former standup comedian Gina Ross, a sarcastic, iconoclastic, in-your-face performer.—
Lee Kelly,
PEOPLE,
12 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
This is why all the whining and complaining from small market teams across the sport is manipulative nonsense.—
Ian Miller OutKick,
FOXNews.com,
17 Apr. 2026
-
Or from whatever this risibly self-serious metaphysical nonsense about performance and possession, creation and exorcism, aims to be.—
David Rooney,
HollywoodReporter,
14 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
To get a sense of his whole deal, look no further than the half-mocking, half-earnest title of his latest album, Country!—
Jonathan Bernstein,
Rolling Stone,
23 Sep. 2025
Adjective
-
Carpenter responded with a quizzical frown.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
13 Apr. 2026
-
Lane was gifted with that kind of face and personality, too, replete with diagonal eyebrows that join his cheekbones in a quizzical demeanor that, throughout his career, has signaled the joys of life.—
Chris Jones,
New York Daily News,
10 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Joking.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/joking. Accessed 23 Apr. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
