Thesaurus.com
Dictionary.com
Showing results for gallows humor. Search instead for Gallows+humor.
Definitions

gallows humor

NOUN
humor derived from serious matters
Synonyms


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.

Many China hawks in the administration have taken to gallows humor, calling the shift the ‘Busan Freeze,’ named for the South Korea meeting between the leaders that produced a fragile trade detente.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 10, 2026

Newsrooms being breeding grounds for gallows humor, most also understand that futility is a terrific comedy catalyst.

From Salon • Sep. 4, 2025

These songs tap into the bottomless well that Mexicans have for gallows humor.

From Los Angeles Times • Aug. 4, 2025

“I meant it as a bit of gallows humor, but he answered by essentially saying, Actually, sort of,” Gluck, a journalist, writes in his forthcoming memoir, An Exercise in Uncertainty.

From Slate • May 2, 2025

There was a good deal of gallows humor among us.

From "Long Walk to Freedom" by Nelson Mandela



Vocabulary.com logo
by dictionary.com

Look it up. Learn it forever.

Remember "gallows humor" for good with VocabTrainer. Expand your vocabulary effortlessly with personalized learning tools that adapt to your goals.

Take me to Vocabulary.com