1
as in comedy
humorous entertainment
an actor whose roles range from slapstick to serious drama
Synonyms & Similar Words
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2
as in hijinks
wildly playful or mischievous behavior
a lowbrow comedy that relies heavily on slapstick for its laughs
Synonyms & Similar Words
as in zany
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of slapstick
James Poniewozik, New York Times, 11 Apr. 2025
There's a lot of delightful slapstick stunt work in Project A, reminiscent of the work of Buster Keaton and Harold Lloyd, but apparently Chan never saw either man's films before developing his signature style.
—ArsTechnica, 7 Apr. 2025
Kilmer demonstrated an incredible range, bouncing between slapstick zaniness, high drama, breathless action, and steely determination.
—Randall Colburn, EW.com, 2 Apr. 2025
Throughout, Snook hams for laughs, turning Wilde’s witticisms and epigrams into slapstick.
—Christian Lewis, Variety, 28 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for slapstick
Noun
Every so often, the E.R. is visited by rats, little symbols of disrepair and instigators of slapstick freak-outs.
—James Poniewozik, New York Times, 11 Apr. 2025
There's a lot of delightful slapstick stunt work in Project A, reminiscent of the work of Buster Keaton and Harold Lloyd, but apparently Chan never saw either man's films before developing his signature style.
—ArsTechnica, 7 Apr. 2025
Kilmer demonstrated an incredible range, bouncing between slapstick zaniness, high drama, breathless action, and steely determination.
—Randall Colburn, EW.com, 2 Apr. 2025
Throughout, Snook hams for laughs, turning Wilde’s witticisms and epigrams into slapstick.
—Christian Lewis, Variety, 28 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for slapstick
Recent Examples of Synonyms for slapstick
Noun
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Examples include Africa United, a comedy about young Rwandan soccer players; The Trial of Jeff David, a true crime podcast detailing the lives of former slaves falsely accused of murder in the 1800s; and Black Enuf, a cartoon about LGBT hip-hop lovers.—
PC Magazine,
PC Magazine,
24 Apr. 2025
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Plot details are being kept under wraps but the series is being described as an ensemble drama with comedy and heart about sisterhood, nature vs nurture, complicated family dynamics and grief.—
Nellie Andreeva,
Deadline,
23 Apr. 2025
Adjective
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Some of us, maybe like Bill Clinton, might wonder what zany anecdote Johnny Miller might have to say about Bill and Hillary during the Little Rock years.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
26 Apr. 2025
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Doke plays Eyeball, a mischievous, zany artist who sees the world in her own idiosyncratic way and often lightens a heavy mood with a joke.—
Rosy Cordero,
Deadline,
22 Apr. 2025
Noun
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Instead of shaping stories that convince, craft absorbing narratives that evoke raw emotion—humor, suspense, passion, disgust and even fear.—
Expert Panel®,
Forbes.com,
21 Apr. 2025
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Like a Dickensian Andy Capp, Johnson is an uber-charming rogue, an everyman bluesy belter whose winking humor with a hint of the scoundrel are not entirely unlike Scott’s demeanor, though each man’s vocals, inflection and stage presence are/were clearly their own.—
Katherine Turman,
Los Angeles Times,
20 Apr. 2025
Adjective
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In the mountains of Papua New Guinea, researchers encountered a clownish creature perched on a log in a fern meadow, basking in the sun.—
Lauren Liebhaber,
Miami Herald,
22 Apr. 2025
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The suit also paints a clownish portrait of the entrepreneur, portraying him as pompous, shameless, and untrustworthy.—
Rachel Corbett,
Vulture,
16 Apr. 2025
Noun
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Even with Ted Lasso on hiatus, Apple TV+ continues to be a presence in this category; no doubt, voters loved seeing Hollywood execs (and egomaniacal stars) get skewered on the streamer's movie-industry satire, The Studio.—
Kristen Baldwin,
EW.com,
23 Apr. 2025
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Like a good martini, the novel blends the zesty gin of satire with vermouthy fruitiness and lemon twists of sharp observation.—
Rob Kyff,
Hartford Courant,
19 Apr. 2025
Adjective
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Also amusing is Fiona Glascott as Lady Violet, an old acquaintance of Sherlock’s who specializes officially in schooling young ladies like Clara to join British high society and unofficially in casting her imperious judgment everywhere.—
Angie Han,
HollywoodReporter,
15 Apr. 2025
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And while the vision of Young, a vigorous 70 in his trademark schoolboy shorts, tie, crew socks and black shoes, is always amusing, there was nothing but serious respect for his finger-blistering playing.—
Melissa Ruggieri,
USA Today,
11 Apr. 2025
Noun
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His is a sort of erudite buffoonery that consistently tap-dances between clever, self-aware, and patently stupid.—
David Sims,
The Atlantic,
22 Mar. 2025
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There is, in fact, real stagecraft along with the buffoonery.—
Susan B. Glasser,
The New Yorker,
20 Mar. 2025
Adjective
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As chaotic and entertaining as the transfer portal is, keeping star-caliber pieces in college is vital to building a truly elite team.—
Jim Root,
New York Times,
2 May 2025
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Photo : Jason Wells/Golden Gate Creative The courtyard is ideal for alfresco lounging and entertaining.—
Wendy Bowman,
Robb Report,
2 May 2025
Cite this Entry
“Slapstick.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/slapstick. Accessed 6 May. 2025.
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