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
Beyond that slapstick start, there is a rich history of women’s baseball in Illinois. — Kendra Nordin Beato, Christian Science Monitor, 31 July 2026 Sitcom-style no-exit environments; slapstick violence; the alternating rhythm of anxiety and release. — James Parker, The Atlantic, 20 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
  • Former Saturday Night Live writer/performer John Higgins, member of the Please Don’t Destroy comedy group, has joined the cast of ABC’s Scrubs for a major recurring role in the upcoming second season of the revival, Deadline has learned.
    — Nellie Andreeva, Deadline, 15 Aug. 2026
  • That uncertainty extends to the film itself, which slips between psychological drama, comedy and magical realism without settling comfortably into any of them.
    — Callum McLennan, Variety, 15 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
  • In addition to humor and heart, the show will feature a new original song written exclusively for the park by composer Randy Newman.
    — Jazz Tangcay, Variety, 16 Aug. 2026
  • But beneath the humor was genuine admiration for the executive whose tenure at Netflix helped transform Hollywood’s traditional television model.
    — Lilly Workneh, HollywoodReporter, 14 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
  • In each of those projects, Johnson created a role for himself, typically a clownish dreamer.
    — Laurie Ochoa, Los Angeles Times, 11 Aug. 2026
  • 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
Definition of clownish
Noun
  • These 2026 debuts are everywhere, especially the tradwife satire by Caro Claire Burke, which has sold more than a million copies since its April release.
    — Clare Mulroy, USA Today, 12 Aug. 2026
  • The episode underscores how California candidates in both parties are rushing to the bleeding edge of generative AI, from cinematic deepfake-style attack ads to meme-ready political satire.
    — Iris Kwok, Los Angeles Times, 11 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 20 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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