as in laughs
someone or something that is very funny
the movie is a real knee-slapper if you are a fan of lowbrow humor
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Recent Examples of knee-slappers
On dinner tables frequented by Brussels sprouts, meatloaf is the well-meaning uncle whose knee-slappers are beloved, but not particularly hip.
—
Betsy Cribb Watson, Southern Living, 14 Feb. 2026
Betsy Cribb Watson, Southern Living, 14 Feb. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for knee-slappers
Noun
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But Jim Parsons and Layton Williams all but run away with the evening, finding diabolical laughs as Rose’s helicopter mom and a Tina Turner-esque iceberg.—
Patrick Ryan,
USA Today,
3 May 2026
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Boston Tea Party joke The monarch also drew laughs with tongue-in-cheek references to American history.—
Ashley Hume,
FOXNews.com,
1 May 2026
Noun
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Wiseman said to hoots from the crowd of media gathered at the site.—
Richard Tribou,
The Orlando Sentinel,
27 Mar. 2026
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Owl hoots are most effective at striking up turkeys when owls are naturally active, which is around dawn and dusk.—
Natalie Krebs,
Outdoor Life,
11 Mar. 2026
Noun
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The House galleries erupted in screams, chants, sirens, and outrage as the vote was taken.—
Terry Collins,
USA Today,
8 May 2026
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Some reported hearing the same unnerving screams in other parts of the state.—
Mark Price,
Charlotte Observer,
27 Apr. 2026
Noun
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The city’s fragile race relations had crumbled with Rodney King, Latasha Harlins and the 1992 riots.—
Deputy Managing Editor,
Los Angeles Times,
28 Apr. 2026
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That video sparked an outcry against police brutality and riots when the officers were eventually exonerated.—
Encyclopedia Britannica,
Encyclopedia Britannica,
27 Apr. 2026
Noun
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Martin gets some jokes about it, more from older generations than teammates or opponents.—
Steve Millar,
Chicago Tribune,
5 May 2026
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Commenters respond to the post As always, commenters were quick to jump on the opportunity to make jokes – in this case, about Kennedy's storied past with animals, especially of the wild persuasion.—
Mary Walrath-Holdridge,
USA Today,
4 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Knee-slappers.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/knee-slappers. Accessed 11 May. 2026.
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