How to Use in jest in a Sentence

in jest

idiom
  • The lawyer has said his comments about Krebs were made in jest.
    Washington Post, 13 Dec. 2020
  • Snyder himself got in on the fun of The Boys and gave his blessing in jest.
    Nick Romano, EW.com, 3 June 2022
  • Some of the comments may have been in jest (the Minnesota and Iowa ones, for instance).
    Aaron Blake, Washington Post, 18 July 2024
  • His spokesman later stressed that the post was in jest and clearly labeled A.I.-generated.
    Lucía Cholakian Herrera, New York Times, 15 Nov. 2023
  • Even though the line was delivered in jest, the show came pretty darn close to living up to it.
    Eric Heisig, cleveland, 12 Aug. 2023
  • O’Connell wonders, half in jest) is pure music-nerd gold.
    San Diego Union-Tribune, 5 Mar. 2021
  • Kash was captured with his hand over his face as his mom continued to film in jest.
    Jill Lupupa, Peoplemag, 15 Aug. 2023
  • Everyone laughed — including the King, who raised his arms and snapped in jest.
    Janine Henni, Peoplemag, 21 July 2023
  • For that matter, Gary, quit provoking your kids, even in jest.
    Kevin Sherrington, Dallas News, 4 Aug. 2020
  • As Maxwell continued down the field, Rodgers laughed and launched the ball back toward Maxwell in jest.
    Kassidy Hill, USA TODAY, 16 Apr. 2022
  • Whether or not the offers are in jest, the seller has listed the item as nonreturnable.
    Eleanor Pringle, Fortune, 26 Jan. 2023
  • Wood and several people who were at his home at the time are friends with Payne, Mack said at the time, and the video was filmed in jest to be sent privately to them.
    Lucas Aulbach, The Courier-Journal, 16 Mar. 2022
  • Jess asks Frida in jest, before things get truly scary.
    Jack Dunn, Variety, 23 Apr. 2024
  • Boughton later said the offer was made in jest, but that only furthered the HBO host’s desire to receive the honor.
    Nicholas Rondinone, courant.com, 6 Oct. 2020
  • Many of these clips were offered in jest, but, truthfully, this is how many fans now interact with sports.
    Jay Caspian Kang, The New Yorker, 29 Mar. 2024
  • While some theories were posited in jest, others appeared to be shared in earnest.
    Kimi Robinson, USA TODAY, 1 Mar. 2024
  • While some theories were posited in jest, others appeared to be shared in earnest.
    Kimi Robinson, USA TODAY, 25 June 2024
  • The audience laughed at the last part, apparently taking it in jest.
    Matt Ford, The New Republic, 9 Nov. 2021
  • Second, Smith’s inability to take the joke in jest was because his wife was the target, not himself, Williams says.
    Nancy Dillon, Rolling Stone, 29 Mar. 2022
  • And unfortunately, names like that were given to slaves in jest.
    Marlow Stern, Rolling Stone, 15 Jan. 2023
  • DiGenova has said his comments about Krebs were sarcastic and made in jest.
    Anchorage Daily News, 8 Dec. 2020
  • Some, in jest, began blaming the loose caracal for the disappearance of smaller cats.
    Frank Witsil, Detroit Free Press, 15 Oct. 2021
  • In the wake of these comments, Gervais issued a statement on Twitter clarifying that they were meant in jest.
    Tyler Aquilina, EW.com, 10 July 2021
  • Though the remark appeared to be made in jest, Biden has ridiculed it many times since, including at a 2020 presidential debate.
    Haisten Willis, Washington Examiner, 20 July 2023
  • Even when in jest, it is used to mock people, particularly women who don’t fit a slim ideal.
    Nafeesah Allen, Parents, 24 July 2024
  • The Licht regime banned alcohol this year, however, after Cohen became a bit tipsy last year and trashed Ryan Seacrest in jest.
    Pamela McClintock, The Hollywood Reporter, 17 Sep. 2023
  • The response to such criticism is often that Chappelle’s comments were made in jest, and are in line with his tradition of pushing the envelope.
    Washington Post, 7 Oct. 2021
  • One user, in jest, thanked the person who admitted dropping their ballot off Tuesday.
    Richard Ruelas, The Arizona Republic, 10 Nov. 2022
  • There’s a memorable old quote about Chip Ganassi, uttered in jest quite a few championships and quite a few Indianapolis 500 wins ago.
    Dave Kallmann, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, 29 May 2022
  • McCain rejected Lake's claims that her previous attacks on her father were meant in jest.
    Morgan Fischer, The Arizona Republic, 6 Mar. 2024

Some of these examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'in jest.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

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