clowning

ADJECTIVE

waggish

Synonyms

WEAK

amusing blithe bubbly cheerful comical frolicsome funny gamesome gay humorous jaunty jesting jocular jocund joking jolly joyous kittenish lighthearted lively merry mirthful snappy spirited teasing whimsical witty

NOUN

farcicality

Synonyms

WEAK

comedy comicality comicalness drollery drollness farce farcicalness funniness humorousness jest jesting jocoseness jocosity jocularity ludicrousness waggishness wit witticism wittiness zaniness

NOUN

fun

Synonyms

STRONGEST

celebration distraction enjoyment joke joy laughter pastime pleasure sport

STRONG

absurdity ball blast buffoonery cheer diversion entertainment escapade festivity foolery frolic gaiety gambol game grins holiday horseplay jocularity jollity junketing merriment merrymaking mirth nonsense picnic playfulness recreation rejoicing relaxation riot romp solace tomfoolery treat whoopee

WEAK

big-time good time high jinks jesting joking living it up romping

Antonyms

STRONGEST

work

STRONG

chore drudgery labor task

NOUN

ha-ha

Synonyms

STRONG

antic buffoonery burlesque caper caprice chestnut drollery epigram escapade farce frolic gag gambol game horseplay humor jape jest lark laugh mischief mummery one-liner parody

WEAK

bon mot hoodwinking monkeyshine payof

Antonyms

STRONG

seriousness tragedy

NOUN

horseplay

Synonyms

STRONGEST

hijinks misbehavior rowdiness

STRONG

antics buffoonery capers pranks shenanigans tomfoolery

WEAK

fooling around fun and games rough-housing

NOUN

humor

Synonyms

STRONGEST

banter farce fun gag joke playfulness whimsy wisecrack wit

STRONG

amusement badinage buffoonery comicality drollery facetiousness flippancy gaiety happiness jest jesting jocoseness jocosity jocularity joking joyfulness kidding levity lightness pleasantry raillery tomfoolery witticism wittiness

WEAK

comicalness high spirits

Antonyms

STRONG

sadness seriousness unhappiness

WEAK

depression drama tragedy

NOUN

humorousness

Synonyms

STRONG

amusement badinage banter buffoonery comedy comicality drollery facetiousness farce flippancy fun funniness gag gaiety happiness jest jocoseness jocosity jocularity

WEAK

comicalness drollness farcicality high spirits jesting

Antonyms

STRONG

sadness seriousness tragedy unhappiness work

NOUN

jesting

Synonyms

STRONG

humor joking

WEAK

wit

NOUN

jocosity

Synonyms

STRONG

amusement badinage banter buffoonery comedy comicality drollery facetiousness farce flippancy fun funniness gag gaiety happiness humorousness jest jocoseness jocularity joke joyfulness levity lightness playfulness pleasantry raillery ridiculousness tomfoolery whimsy wisecrack wit witticism wittiness

WEAK

comicalness drollness farcicality high spirits jesting joking kidding ludicrousness zaniness

Antonyms

STRONG

sadness seriousness tragedy unhappiness work

NOUN

joke

Synonyms

STRONGEST

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

STRONG

buffoonery burlesque caper caprice chestnut 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

ludicrousness

Synonyms

WEAK

amusement badinage banter buffoonery comedy comicality comicalness drollery drollness facetiousness farce farcicality flippancy fun funniness gag gaiety happiness high spirits humorousness jest jesting jocoseness jocosity jocularity joke joking joyfulness kidding levity lightness playfulness pleasantry raillery ridiculousness tomfoolery whimsy wisecrack wit witticism wittiness zaniness

NOUN

tomfoolery

Synonyms

STRONG

absurdity antics bunk craziness folly foolery foolishness fun giddiness horseplay insanity irresponsibility lunacy madness ridiculousness senselessness shenanigans silliness

WEAK

carrying-on fooling around funny business high jinks joking kidding around ludicrousness

Antonyms

STRONG

sense seriousness

NOUN

wisecrack

Synonyms

STRONGEST

gag one-liner prank quip witticism zinger

STRONG

antic caper dig escapade farce frolic lark laugh mischief parody put on remark retort rib shenanigan stunt trick yarn

WEAK

monkeyshine smart crack

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.

Zaalan loves how modern clowning embraces failure and emphasizes shared human experiences.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 1, 2026

Or maybe it was that the clowning that marked the career of Ron Luciano masked a deeper sadness that finally claimed the life of baseball’s happy warrior in a size-50 extralong dark blazer.

From The Wall Street Journal • Feb. 26, 2026

But too much clowning around might not look so smart.

From BBC • Sep. 20, 2025

Living up to her designation as “the Internet’s favorite rich auntie,” Ross keeps her Instagram followers well fed with endless glamour and lots of clowning around.

From Salon • Aug. 3, 2025

“You know, make a fresh start. I really didn’t mean anything when I made fun of you during auditions. I was just clowning around, you know.”

From "Like Vanessa" by Tami Charles

clowning

Example Sentences

Related Words