as in joking
marked by or expressive of mild or good-natured teasing
made kidding remarks about her lack of skills in the kitchen
Synonyms & Similar Words
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as in fooling
Related Words
1
as in teasing
to make fun of in a good-natured way
everybody's kidding me about my new haircut
Synonyms & Similar Words
2
as in jesting
to make jokes
he always kids around about his "wild and crazy" life as an accountant
Synonyms & Similar Words
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of kidding
Kaitlin Clapinski, InStyle, 11 Apr. 2026
Here’s what winning a National Championship taught me about B2B sales 🏆 (kidding…kinda) 1.
—Greg Rosenstein, NBC news, 22 Jan. 2026
Just kidding, Kim’s is a real and rational response, but Natalie is not having it.
—Brian Moylan, Vulture, 31 Dec. 2025
While fictional, Joel’s compassion and care can’t help but feel like counterprogramming to the cynical everyday horrors of violent deportations, open bigotry from leading politicians, measles outbreaks and the return of whole milk (kidding!
—Leah Asmelash, CNN Money, 18 Dec. 2025
Just kidding, that’s next Sunday.
—Alex Kirshner, New York Times, 26 Oct. 2025
On New Year's Eve, the weather was a balmy (kidding) 25 degrees Fahrenheit, and after spending hours braving the cold, peeling off our wet socks and stepping onto the warm wooden floors was pure heaven.
—Kayla Brock, Condé Nast Traveler, 31 Jan. 2025
Maggie Fremont, Vulture, 17 Apr. 2026
The interviewer said that Phillips, 65, was not kidding.
—Meredith Kile, PEOPLE, 14 Apr. 2026
Anyone who doesn’t believe Lamar Jackson bears the pressure to fulfill his greatness with a Super Bowl ring is kidding themselves, NFL history and plain logic.
—Miami Herald, 13 Apr. 2026
There's a dazzling cigar lounge and bar, both conceived by none other than hotel designer of the moment, Martin Brudnizki (of Annabel’s; Fouquets; and Fifth Avenue Hotel fame); a sleek omakase restaurant; and even a 4,000-year-old fossil parked unassumingly outside a set of toilets (not kidding).
—Divia Thani, Condé Nast Traveler, 10 Apr. 2026
DeVos wasn’t kidding, and on Monday, in front of close friends and family, current and former Magic executives and employees and local community leaders, a plaque was unveiled with Martins’ name on it at the Orlando Magic Hall of Fame that’s located in Kia Center on the terrace level.
—Jason Beede, The Orlando Sentinel, 23 Mar. 2026
McKneely wasn’t kidding about the staples being removed.
—ABC News, 19 Mar. 2026
But Foley wasn’t really kidding.
—Tom Mulherin, Boston Herald, 15 Mar. 2026
Download a map and a donut passport or contact the donut concierge—I’m not kidding—who can customize your itinerary.
—Allison Tibaldi, USA Today, 10 Mar. 2026
Noun
Just kidding, but really, dad-like pairs have been de-throned by low-profile sneakers that have a low sole and slim exterior.
—Kaitlin Clapinski, InStyle, 11 Apr. 2026
Here’s what winning a National Championship taught me about B2B sales 🏆 (kidding…kinda) 1.
—Greg Rosenstein, NBC news, 22 Jan. 2026
Just kidding, Kim’s is a real and rational response, but Natalie is not having it.
—Brian Moylan, Vulture, 31 Dec. 2025
While fictional, Joel’s compassion and care can’t help but feel like counterprogramming to the cynical everyday horrors of violent deportations, open bigotry from leading politicians, measles outbreaks and the return of whole milk (kidding!
—Leah Asmelash, CNN Money, 18 Dec. 2025
Just kidding, that’s next Sunday.
—Alex Kirshner, New York Times, 26 Oct. 2025
On New Year's Eve, the weather was a balmy (kidding) 25 degrees Fahrenheit, and after spending hours braving the cold, peeling off our wet socks and stepping onto the warm wooden floors was pure heaven.
—Kayla Brock, Condé Nast Traveler, 31 Jan. 2025
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
Anyone who doesn’t believe Lamar Jackson bears the pressure to fulfill his greatness with a Super Bowl ring is kidding themselves, NFL history and plain logic.
—Miami Herald, 13 Apr. 2026
There's a dazzling cigar lounge and bar, both conceived by none other than hotel designer of the moment, Martin Brudnizki (of Annabel’s; Fouquets; and Fifth Avenue Hotel fame); a sleek omakase restaurant; and even a 4,000-year-old fossil parked unassumingly outside a set of toilets (not kidding).
—Divia Thani, Condé Nast Traveler, 10 Apr. 2026
DeVos wasn’t kidding, and on Monday, in front of close friends and family, current and former Magic executives and employees and local community leaders, a plaque was unveiled with Martins’ name on it at the Orlando Magic Hall of Fame that’s located in Kia Center on the terrace level.
—Jason Beede, The Orlando Sentinel, 23 Mar. 2026
McKneely wasn’t kidding about the staples being removed.
—ABC News, 19 Mar. 2026
But Foley wasn’t really kidding.
—Tom Mulherin, Boston Herald, 15 Mar. 2026
Download a map and a donut passport or contact the donut concierge—I’m not kidding—who can customize your itinerary.
—Allison Tibaldi, USA Today, 10 Mar. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for kidding
Noun
-
No fooling, April brings some pretty interesting surprises on Netflix.—
K. Thor Jensen,
PC Magazine,
27 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
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,
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
Noun
-
Afroman celebrated his legal victory in a video on Wednesday after winning a defamation lawsuit filed by several Ohio sheriff's deputies who accused the rapper of mocking and allegedly lying about them in music videos, following a 2022 raid on his home.—
Angeline Jane Bernabe,
ABC News,
19 Mar. 2026
-
Mutch was likely made aware of Chandler’s mocking verses, as some of Chandler’s biographers suggest.—
Jake Lundberg,
The Atlantic,
13 Mar. 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
Noun
-
The jokes that really stood out, though, were all about our changing media landscape, whether the not-so-gentle ribbing of Netflix co-CEO Ted Sarandos finally embracing theaters, or Amazon being too much of a jack-of-all-trades, master of none.—
Marcus Jones,
IndieWire,
16 Mar. 2026
-
Team Italy captain Vinnie Pasquantino is likely to get some good-natured ribbing from a few of his Royals teammates on Monday night.—
Pete Grathoff,
Kansas City Star,
16 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
The jaw-dropping transformations prompted a hilarious running joke in the comments section from viewers seeking glow-ups of their own.—
Catherine Santino,
PEOPLE,
16 Apr. 2026
-
For too long, Charlotte has been a running joke of a pro sports city.—
Scott Fowler,
Charlotte Observer,
16 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
Ernie was given to fun-loving razzing of others in the locker room.—
Ron Mix,
Los Angeles Times,
12 Apr. 2026
-
Rowland expected a bit more razzing after Badger’s touchdown was wiped off the board.—
Chris Hays,
The Orlando Sentinel,
30 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Kidding.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/kidding. Accessed 22 Apr. 2026.
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