1
as in comedy
humorous entertainment
an actor whose roles range from slapstick to serious drama
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
2
as in clowning
wildly playful or mischievous behavior
a lowbrow comedy that relies heavily on slapstick for its laughs
Synonyms & Similar Words
as in zany
Related Words
Dissimilar 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 slapstick
Kambole Campbell, Vulture, 9 Dec. 2025
However, during the Venice Film Festival there were critics that said that this film really gifted me a great slapstick performance, and there were some comparisons to Charlie Chaplin as well.
—Damon Wise, Deadline, 8 Dec. 2025
Rebecca Angel Baer, Southern Living, 12 Dec. 2025
The Naked Gun stars Pamela Anderson and Liam Neeson sent tongues wagging over the summer with their flirty press tour while promoting the reboot of the slapstick police spoof comedies of the 1980s.
—Mekishana Pierre, Entertainment Weekly, 9 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for slapstick
Noun
Takahashi’s story delights in throwing more and more wrenches in the works with a growing cast of chaotic supporting characters (like the vicious Shampoo and the blowhard Tatewaki Kuno), and the anime adapts their antics as pastel-toned slapstick.
—Kambole Campbell, Vulture, 9 Dec. 2025
However, during the Venice Film Festival there were critics that said that this film really gifted me a great slapstick performance, and there were some comparisons to Charlie Chaplin as well.
—Damon Wise, Deadline, 8 Dec. 2025
Adjective
From his earliest job as a radio DJ in his teens during WWII, one half of a slapstick comedy duo in night clubs, and even a morning news anchor on CBS opposite Walter Cronkite.
—Rebecca Angel Baer, Southern Living, 12 Dec. 2025
The Naked Gun stars Pamela Anderson and Liam Neeson sent tongues wagging over the summer with their flirty press tour while promoting the reboot of the slapstick police spoof comedies of the 1980s.
—Mekishana Pierre, Entertainment Weekly, 9 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for slapstick
Recent Examples of Synonyms for slapstick
Noun
-
Fans of her comedy applauded Glaser for not being afraid of going to some dark places, as others objected to the edgy material.—
Brendan Morrow,
USA Today,
9 Nov. 2025
-
With so many comedy writers on the bill, the Broder tribute was no somber affair.—
Cynthia Littleton,
Variety,
9 Nov. 2025
Noun
-
Art, meanwhile, occupies a lonely table in the pizzeria and tries to put on his best clowning act for the two women.—
Declan Gallagher,
Entertainment Weekly,
31 Oct. 2025
-
As with older clowning traditions, the early American circus clowns were adults performing taboo acts to shock and delight other adults.—
Time,
Time,
30 Oct. 2025
Adjective
-
The zany attraction will feature two beloved characters, No Legs Larry and Maestro, who are ready to welcome guests back in Phantom Theater for a pipe organ performance.—
Megan duBois,
USA Today,
20 Dec. 2025
-
Guests can take their final super stretch limo ride until March 1, 2026, when the ride will close for its zany retheme.—
Megan duBois,
Southern Living,
20 Dec. 2025
Noun
-
Over two decades after the original, the cast reunited with enthusiasm, celebrating the humor and heart that made the film resonate for generations.—
Tereza Shkurtaj,
PEOPLE,
10 Jan. 2026
-
These songs smartly aim much higher than mere shock value, and that makes the humor all the deeper.—
Matthew J. Palm,
The Orlando Sentinel,
10 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
Cole follows up with a joking request to appear on an interlude on the forthcoming project, then asks whether West could send him a care package of clothes — which West agrees to — before exiting the stage.—
Jessica Lynch,
Billboard,
28 Dec. 2025
-
Our poll’s options include a joking reference to Dan Marino.—
Greg Cote
December 20,
Miami Herald,
20 Dec. 2025
Adjective
-
Pratt, who long cultivated a clownish and villainous persona, leveraged his significant social media presence following the fire to refashion himself as an earnest mix of citizen watchdog and populist firebrand.—
Gary Baum,
HollywoodReporter,
7 Jan. 2026
-
Switcheroo is all snappy disco, clownish house, and musical sight gags.—
Pitchfork,
Pitchfork,
4 Dec. 2025
Noun
-
The opening sketch has long been the primary venue for the show’s most enduring political satire.—
Erik Adams,
The Atlantic,
9 Nov. 2025
-
In keeping with a pleasing streak of industry satire here—Michael Haneke and Netflix get hilarious shout-outs—Fanning has a bracing directness that cuts through all the dramaturgical throat-clearing.—
Justin Chang,
New Yorker,
7 Nov. 2025
Noun
-
Death by Lightning, adapted by Mike Makowsky from Candice Millard’s 2011 nonfiction book and directed by Matt Ross, hums with the strength of these performances, particularly Shannon’s quiet composure and Macfadyen mining new depths of buffoonery.—
Roxana Hadadi,
Vulture,
1 Dec. 2025
-
Scholz-Carlson’s staging pushes against the deep misogyny of Da Ponte’s libretto by accentuating the buffoonery of the two male romantic leads.—
Sheila Regan,
Twin Cities,
2 Nov. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Slapstick.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/slapstick. Accessed 13 Jan. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share