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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 is a running joke on many wedding days, with guests speculating if a bride will get to the church on time.

From BBC • Apr. 23, 2026

“Fuze’s” version of a joke is when an anxious underling pipes up to ask for permission to speak.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 23, 2026

He was forced to resign because he was traveling around on private jets at taxpayer expense, which seems like a joke today.

From Salon • Apr. 23, 2026

“People joke that If anything, we should be the Billionaires,” said local historian Amy Lafave.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 22, 2026

Jonah almost laughed too because it felt so good to treat everything like a joke, to pretend that he wasn’t worried about anything.

From "Found" by Margaret Peterson Haddix