slapstick 1 of 2

noun

ˈslap-ˌstik How to pronounce slapstick (audio)
Definition of slapsticknext
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 clowning
wildly playful or mischievous behavior a lowbrow comedy that relies heavily on slapstick for its laughs

Synonyms & Similar Words

slapstick

2 of 2

adjective

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
Noun
Physical comedy and razor-sharp wit collide in this carnival of theatrical surprises — a masterful blend of classic French farce and contemporary slapstick that will leave audiences breathless with laughter, the news release states. — News Release, San Diego Union-Tribune, 9 July 2026 Jim Carrey, The Mask 2 Jim Carrey's starring role in 1994's The Mask was just one in a string of box office hits that cemented the actor and comedian as a slapstick icon. — Brianna Zigler, Entertainment Weekly, 1 July 2026
Adjective
For every moment of slapstick body comedy, there is an equally devastating scene of heartbreak. — Luke Chinman, PEOPLE, 2 June 2026 Performers were often white people who donned blackface to mock Black people through song, dance and slapstick comedy. — A.d. Carson, The Conversation, 6 May 2026 See All Example Sentences for slapstick
Recent Examples of Synonyms for slapstick
  1. comedy
  2. clowning
  3. zany
  4. humor
  5. joking
  6. clownish
  7. satire
  8. buffoonery
Noun
  • Gabriel Jarret, Michelle Meyrink, Jon Gries, William Atherton and Robert Prescott also starred in the comedy.
    — Kelly Allen, PEOPLE, 9 Aug. 2026
  • While One Night Only is intended as a romantic-comedy, there are some obvious dystopian undertones that audiences can’t ignore.
    — Glenn Garner, Deadline, 8 Aug. 2026
Definition of comedy
Noun
  • The clowning might be a little too effortful.
    — Theater Critic, Los Angeles Times, 13 May 2026
  • As the race unfolds in real time, there’s clowning, collisions, sabotage, surprises, comedy, chaos and more.
    — Pam Kragen, San Diego Union-Tribune, 13 Apr. 2026
Definition of clowning
Adjective
  • Dujardin and Dana have fine chemistry, but Dujardin’s best chemistry is with Ficarra, an Italian comic with exaggerated features and a love for the zanier aspects of the story.
    — Daniel Fienberg, HollywoodReporter, 30 June 2026
  • Big Brother has certainly had a zany cast of characters over the years, but the characters that really matter are the casts themselves.
    — Dalton Ross, Entertainment Weekly, 4 June 2026
Definition of zany
Noun
  • The Gemini Moon moves through your 5th House of Creativity and sextiles the Leo Sun in your 7th House of Partnership, helping humor, flirtation, brainstorming, or self-expression flow more easily with someone else.
    — Tarot.com, Sun Sentinel, 8 Aug. 2026
  • The Moon enters Gemini and your 5th House of Creativity, Romance, and Pleasure, bringing curiosity, humor, flirtation, and expressive momentum.
    — Tarot.com, Chicago Tribune, 7 Aug. 2026
Definition of humor
Noun
  • Back in December 1968, Dolan wrote a joking column about the earlier Lake Worth monster, from way back in 1947.
    — Star-Telegram staff, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 10 July 2026
  • Oh, but the Padres manager was ready with the joking last night.
    — Kevin Acee, San Diego Union-Tribune, 21 June 2026
Definition of joking
Adjective
  • Martin showed that even a clownish gentleman with a pure heart could woo someone like Tisha Campbell’s Gina.
    — Jordan Hoffman, Entertainment Weekly, 8 June 2026
  • The Black characters that appeared on-screen closely resembled the clownish stereotypes popularized by the minstrels.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 25 Mar. 2026
Definition of clownish
Noun
  • Running through Saturday, the 4th of July Tuna High School Class reunion takes over the third-tiniest town in Texas, bringing oddball humor and small-town satire into the spotlight.
    — Philip Potempa, Chicago Tribune, 6 Aug. 2026
  • Some of these memes adhered to conventional forms of political satire.
    — Evan Clarkson, The Conversation, 6 Aug. 2026
Definition of satire
Noun
  • Still, there's a remarkable level of buffoonery in his analysis.
    — Bobby Burack OutKick, FOXNews.com, 4 Aug. 2026
  • The show, with its interest in corporate buffoonery, doesn’t quite manage to hand-wave away the queasy implications.
    — Inkoo Kang, New Yorker, 27 Mar. 2026
Definition of buffoonery

Browse Nearby Words

slaps down
slapstick
slapsticks
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Cite this Entry

“Slapstick.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/slapstick. Accessed 13 Aug. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on slapstick

Nglish: Translation of slapstick for Spanish Speakers

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about slapstick

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