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

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

Sometimes a playful comment, an unexpected reply or a joking callout between brands takes on a life of its own online. — Expert Panel®, Forbes.com, 20 May 2026

Despite that underlying tension, kids play on the street outside while the large family has a dynamic like any other — noisily squabbling, joking, or in the case of the matriarchal grandmother, Mariam (Hiam Abbass), preparing a meal in a kitchen plagued by constant utility outages. — David Rooney, HollywoodReporter, 15 May 2026

The president has long bristled at the otherwise customary joking at his expense by celebrity comedians. — Dennis Romero, NBC news, 28 Apr. 2026

Here opposites — classy and brassy — are distractions, with odd-couple joking substituting for something more substantial. — Frank Rizzo, Variety, 23 Apr. 2026

There was none of the usual laughing and joking. — Mario Cortegana, New York Times, 20 Mar. 2026

Verb

The Star Wars actor shared a photo of the newlyweds on Instagram on Sunday, July 5, while joking about his whereabouts on their special day. — Raven Brunner, PEOPLE, 6 July 2026

Following the convincing 3-0 victory over Czechia while resting some starters, the atmosphere on the Mexican team has been very relaxed, with several videos showing the players joking around with each other. — Eduard Cauich, Los Angeles Times, 30 June 2026

There were quips and laughs during the postgame news conference, but Skubal’s overall tone was hardly joking. — Cody Stavenhagen, New York Times, 25 June 2026

Stickler may or may not have hinted about the end of the relationship in April, joking about an ex-boyfriend. — Madeleine Marr, Miami Herald, 24 June 2026

Thursday evening, joking about his suspension last year for his comments about reactions to conservator commentator Charlie Kirk’s death. — Marlene Lenthang, NBC news, 20 June 2026

Sudano said his son was a good kid who was outgoing, always joking and good-hearted. — Kerri Corrado, CBS News, 17 June 2026

While Diana was clearly joking in her letters with Stamp, the former Princess of Wales was famously open about her mental health—which has had a trickle-down effect of her sons, Prince William and Prince Harry, being open about theirs. — Rachel Burchfield, InStyle, 9 June 2026

Last year, a seventeen-year-old boy in New Jersey allegedly drove his car into two teen-age girls, killing them both, after joking on a live stream about women getting raped by Tate. — Heidi Blake, New Yorker, 8 June 2026