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
Relevance
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
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 kidding
Bethy Squires, Vulture, 10 May 2026
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
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
CBS News, 28 May 2026
Gilpin isn’t kidding about the haunting.
—Hunter Ingram, Variety, 27 May 2026
At the time, the race’s series was known (not kidding, and no relation) as the Busch Series.
—Jeff Rosen, Kansas City Star, 22 May 2026
Gosling, of course, was kidding.
—Jake Coyle, Fortune, 6 May 2026
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
Noun
Just kidding, massage certificate is the way to go.
—Bethy Squires, Vulture, 10 May 2026
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
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
Zucker watched the video and thought Harper — more known for his brush with greatness as a two-time NL MVP — was kidding.
—CBS News, 28 May 2026
Gilpin isn’t kidding about the haunting.
—Hunter Ingram, Variety, 27 May 2026
At the time, the race’s series was known (not kidding, and no relation) as the Busch Series.
—Jeff Rosen, Kansas City Star, 22 May 2026
Gosling, of course, was kidding.
—Jake Coyle, Fortune, 6 May 2026
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
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
-
Liu is sworn to secrecy about the latter fantasy epic, joking that a publicist will blow dart us from across the room for saying too much.—
Patrick Ryan,
USA Today,
29 May 2026
-
On the King's coronation day in May 2023, videos of Thompson helping the King with his ceremonial robes went viral, with commenters joking that the handsome soldier should be crowned as well.—
Meredith Kile,
PEOPLE,
28 May 2026
Noun
-
Arteta and his Arsenal squad have, of course, downplayed the noise around the club this season, arguing that the widespread mocking doesn’t impact the inner sanctum of the team.—
Ben Church,
CNN Money,
20 Apr. 2026
-
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
Verb
-
Off Campus is playing the long game by also teasing the fourth installment in Kennedy’s series, The Goal.—
Kenneal Patterson,
Vanity Fair,
29 May 2026
-
Netflix’s The Boroughs ends with a twist, teasing the future of the series and hinting at the true origin of Mother.—
Dani Di Placido,
Forbes.com,
28 May 2026
Noun
-
Plus, the vertical ribbing gives a subtle lengthening effect (always a win).—
Jeaneen Russell,
PEOPLE,
13 May 2026
-
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
Noun
-
And yet, Chisholm’s chat with Fallon sparked some jokes and blowback after the host asked the colorful character what the Yankees’ ultimate goal is this season.—
Gary Phillips,
New York Daily News,
4 June 2026
-
The majority of the jokes come off as more asserted than delighted.—
Owen Gleiberman,
Variety,
4 June 2026
Noun
-
Moss-Bachrach runs through a lot of emotions countering Bernthal here, cycling Richie through jokey acceptance of Mikey’s razzing, some light teasing of his own, and glimpses of uncertainty.—
Roxana Hadadi,
Vulture,
5 May 2026
-
Ernie was given to fun-loving razzing of others in the locker room.—
Ron Mix,
Los Angeles Times,
12 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Kidding.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/kidding. Accessed 9 Jun. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
