Definitions

joke

[johk] / dʒoʊk /

NOUN

fun, quip

Synonyms

STRONGEST

antic farce gag humor laugh one-liner parody prank pun stunt trick wisecrack

STRONG

buffoonery burlesque caper caprice chestnut clowning drollery epigram escapade frolic game ha-ha hoodwinking horseplay jape jest lark mischief mummery payoff play pleasantry put on quirk raillery repartee revel sally saw shenanigan sport spree tomfoolery vagary whimsy witticism yarn

WEAK

bon mot monkeyshine shaggy-dog story snow job

Antonyms

STRONGEST

seriousness tragedy

STRONG

work

NOUN

person that is made fun of

Synonyms

STRONGEST

object of ridicule

STRONG

buffoon butt clown fool jackass laughingstock simpleton sport target

WEAK

derision jestee scapegoat

VERB

kid, tease

Synonyms

STRONGEST

banter laugh quip

STRONG

chaff deceive deride fool frolic fun gambol jape jest jive jolly josh mock needle play revel rib ridicule roast spoof sport taunt trick wisecrack

WEAK

horse around kid around make merry play the clown play tricks poke fun pull one's leg put on

Antonyms

STRONG

compliment flatter praise

WEAK

be serious

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

It’s presented without winks or nudges, neither as a joke nor necessarily foolish.

From Los Angeles Times • Jun. 8, 2026

In Complainant A's police interview she had claimed Sir Jeffrey "laughed off" this incident as "just a joke".

From BBC • Jun. 8, 2026

The movement sprang from an online joke that went viral.

From The Wall Street Journal • Jun. 7, 2026

The joke, which revolved around a misunderstanding between a Kurdish woman and a doctor, also drew the ire of the pro-Kurdish opposition DEM party which said it had filed a complaint against him.

From Barron's • Jun. 6, 2026

“It’s a bit of a joke that humans believe we’ll eat them,” said Bork.

From "Rump: The (Fairly) True Story of Rumpelstilskin" by Liesl Shurtliff

joke

Example Sentences

Related Words