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
as in zany
Related Words
Dissimilar Words
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of slapstick
Emily McClanathan, Chicago Tribune, 17 Apr. 2026
The film, which debuted on Netflix April 1, deploys a deliberately eccentric tone, mixing slapstick, satire and spy-thriller tropes with Das’ irreverent comedic sensibility.
—Naman Ramachandran, Variety, 2 Apr. 2026
Pam Kragen, San Diego Union-Tribune, 9 Mar. 2026
Nearly 50 years after its release, the ZAZ production is still considered one of the best comedies ever made with every slapstick scene and quotable Leslie Nielsen line as stunningly funny on the 20th viewing as the first.
—Rachel Simon, Vulture, 6 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for slapstick
Noun
With sparse amounts of slapstick, this staging isn’t the most physical of farces, though Lutz and Enriquez in particular strike some laugh-out-loud poses.
—Emily McClanathan, Chicago Tribune, 17 Apr. 2026
The film, which debuted on Netflix April 1, deploys a deliberately eccentric tone, mixing slapstick, satire and spy-thriller tropes with Das’ irreverent comedic sensibility.
—Naman Ramachandran, Variety, 2 Apr. 2026
Adjective
There’s also some slapstick comic bits that add little to the story.
—Pam Kragen, San Diego Union-Tribune, 9 Mar. 2026
Nearly 50 years after its release, the ZAZ production is still considered one of the best comedies ever made with every slapstick scene and quotable Leslie Nielsen line as stunningly funny on the 20th viewing as the first.
—Rachel Simon, Vulture, 6 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for slapstick
Recent Examples of Synonyms for slapstick
Noun
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The high production values and frequent genre-hopping were inspired by the sketch-comedy duo Key and Peele, whom Barker grew up watching religiously.—
Alex Barasch,
New Yorker,
11 May 2026
-
The city doubles in size and there’s nonstop music, theater, and comedy for a whole month.—
Riza Cruz,
Vogue,
11 May 2026
Noun
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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
Adjective
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The peculiarities of these heartbreak goggles fueled a zany Saturday Night Live sketch, a standout from last night’s solid episode that saw Olivia Rodrigo doing double duty as host and musical guest.—
Paula Mejía,
The Atlantic,
3 May 2026
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Your task is to set the fastest time through zany courses set in and around parking garages.—
Adam Ismail,
The Drive,
29 Apr. 2026
Noun
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Blending adventure, humor and emotion, the series is squarely aimed at a wide family audience, the company added.—
Ed Meza,
Variety,
14 May 2026
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This is a play that takes young people and their problems seriously, while incorporating occasional humor into the script and direction.—
Emily McClanathan,
Chicago Tribune,
14 May 2026
Noun
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The president has long bristled at the otherwise customary joking at his expense by celebrity comedians.—
Dennis Romero,
NBC news,
28 Apr. 2026
-
Here opposites — classy and brassy — are distractions, with odd-couple joking substituting for something more substantial.—
Frank Rizzo,
Variety,
23 Apr. 2026
Adjective
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The Black characters that appeared on-screen closely resembled the clownish stereotypes popularized by the minstrels.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
25 Mar. 2026
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The clownish dance is a Fortnite video game gesture, and involves making an L shape with fingers, pressing it to one’s forehead, then high kicking from side to side.—
Mark Price,
Charlotte Observer,
5 Mar. 2026
Noun
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Expect delights in French humor and satire, drawing inspiration from the beloved French comic series Astérix and its ancient Western European setting.—
Zachary Laks,
Travel + Leisure,
15 May 2026
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The satire was fictitious and its intent only humorous.—
Greg Evans,
Deadline,
14 May 2026
Noun
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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
-
Receivers have cratered seasons with me-over-we buffoonery.—
Troy Renck,
Denver Post,
19 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Slapstick.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/slapstick. Accessed 18 May. 2026.
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