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Definitions

wordplay

[wurd-pley] / ˈwɜrdˌpleɪ /
NOUN
acrostic
Synonyms
STRONG
acronym cipher composition phrase
NOUN
play on words
Synonyms
WEAK
bon mot double entendre double meaning equivocalness jeu de mots pun
NOUN
repartee
Synonyms
STRONGEST
banter pleasantry rejoinder retort sarcasm
STRONG
answer badinage comeback humor irony persiflage quip raillery reply response riposte sally satire wit witticism wittiness
WEAK
bon mot
Antonyms
STRONG
question request seriousness
WEAK
argument disagreement fight
NOUN
wit
Synonyms
STRONGEST
fun joke satire
STRONG
aphorism badinage banter burlesque drollery facetiousness gag jest jocularity lark levity pleasantry prank pun quip raillery repartee sally trick whimsicality wisecrack wittiness
WEAK
bon mot practical joke
Antonyms
STRONG
seriousness

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.

Despite this, Wardle and a team of collaborators recently launched Parseword, a wordplay game inspired by Wardle's attempts to get to grips with cryptic crossword puzzles.

From BBC • Mar. 30, 2026

The narrative wanders through exuberant wordplay and digressions that can become distracting.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 27, 2026

Frank Drebin, Neeson kept us in hysterics with a stupid-brilliant barrage of surreal wordplay and daffy slapstick.

From Los Angeles Times • Dec. 5, 2025

Does Ellie have any sort of sense of wordplay?

From Salon • Nov. 2, 2025

Jonathan Swift has always been a favorite, but I can’t get over how clever his wordplay is throughout the novel.

From "The Darkest Minds" by Alexandra Bracken