LAUGHINGSTOCK Synonyms: 22 Similar and Opposite Words

laughingstock

noun

ˈla-fiŋ-ˌstäk

Definition of laughingstock

as in joke

a person or thing that is made fun of his nerdy clothes made him the laughingstock of the schoolyard

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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 laughingstock The other—the New York Knicks—have gone from the NBA's laughingstock just a decade ago to NBA champion. — Robert Reiss, Forbes.com, 20 July 2026 The fundamentalist movement became a national laughingstock. — Michael Luo, New Yorker, 14 June 2026 East could be a gauntlet in ’26-27 A perennial laughingstock compared to the Western Conference, the East should be fun and fierce next season. — Bennett Durando, Denver Post, 19 May 2026 Charlotte has long been a franchise laughingstock, dare say always. — Miami Herald, 15 Apr. 2026 See All Example Sentences for laughingstock

Recent Examples of Synonyms for laughingstock

Noun

Now the adults are growing up a little bit, and that adds depth to the show but doesn’t sacrifice jokes.

— Emily Gould, Vulture, 24 Aug. 2026
His cutlery’s subtly unusual proportions manage to be elegant and playful at the same time, like that perfect joke that lands gracefully at a cocktail party, where everyone laughs and nobody chortles.

— Emily Watlington, ARTnews.com, 24 Aug. 2026

Definition of joke

Noun

Many of the most viral videos that are part of the trend also play with social power dynamics by having the creator make a fool of someone who may be older, male or even their boss — further evidence of how social media use is changing online.

— David Mack, CNN Money, 20 Aug. 2026
Sho Fujita, Burroughs, running back, senior Don’t let the 5-foot-6 size fool you.

— Ethan Hanson, Daily News, 19 Aug. 2026

Definition of fool

Browse Nearby Words

laughing off

laughingstock

laughingstocks

See all Nearby Words

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“Laughingstock.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/laughingstock. Accessed 28 Aug. 2026.

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Synonyms of laughingstock

noun

Example Sentences

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