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Synonym Chooser

How is the word humorous distinct from other similar adjectives?

Some common synonyms of humorous are facetious, jocose, jocular, and witty. While all these words mean "provoking or intended to provoke laughter," humorous applies broadly to anything that evokes usually genial laughter and may contrast with witty in suggesting whimsicality or eccentricity.

humorous anecdotes

In what contexts can facetious take the place of humorous?

While the synonyms facetious and humorous are close in meaning, facetious stresses a desire to produce laughter and may be derogatory in implying dubious or ill-timed attempts at wit or humor.

facetious comments

How are the words jocose and facetious related as synonyms of humorous?

Jocose is somewhat less derogatory than facetious in suggesting habitual waggishness or playfulness.

jocose proposals

When might jocular be a better fit than humorous?

The synonyms jocular and humorous are sometimes interchangeable, but jocular implies a usually habitual fondness for jesting and joking.

a jocular fellow

When is witty a more appropriate choice than humorous?

Although the words witty and humorous have much in common, witty suggests cleverness and quickness of mind.

a witty remark

Examples Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of humorous From embarrassing loan attempts to humorous misadventures like SZA electrocuting herself while trying to retrieve a pair of Jordans from a power line, their friendship is put to the ultimate test. Giana Levy, refinery29.com, 25 Oct. 2024 This humorous vitriol stems from Vlad’s disapproval of Wayans’ asking for $40,000 and 30% of future revenue to interview on his platform in August. Armon Sadler, VIBE.com, 23 Oct. 2024 The beginning of the episode starts with a humorous in-game interaction between Ashmore and Remedy’s creative director Sam Lake. G Kirilloff, Forbes, 22 Oct. 2024 And modern chic has everything to with the charming, precise, neat and even humorous clothes the 46-year-old designer showed last week. Tonya Blazio-Licorish, WWD, 17 Oct. 2024 See all Example Sentences for humorous 
Recent Examples of Synonyms for humorous
Adjective
  • This simultaneously funny and profound musical spins around a teenage girl (the lovable Carolee Carmello) suffering from a rare genetic disease that makes her age five times faster than normal.
    Karen D'Souza, The Mercury News, 8 Nov. 2024
  • The jokes just aren’t funny enough — though there is one killer line about Shehzada, which was one of Aaryan’s major flops — and the scares aren’t terrifying enough.
    Anupama Chopra, The Hollywood Reporter, 5 Nov. 2024
Adjective
  • Kate often seems like a spin on C.J. Cregg, Janney’s character on The West Wing — assertive, witty, disinterested in fashion — and so the series casting Janney to play a foil for Kate felt inevitable.
    Roxana Hadadi, Vulture, 1 Nov. 2024
  • Their campaigns and social are obviously very witty, very inventive.
    Chris Gardner, The Hollywood Reporter, 31 Oct. 2024
Adjective
  • Co-written with The Office executive producer Ben Silverman, The Night Before Christmas at Dunder Mifflin is described as a comedic retelling of the classic poem, featuring a visit from Steve Carell’s Michael Scott as Santa and narrated by Baumgartner’s Kevin Malone.
    Marc Berman, Forbes, 4 Nov. 2024
  • Emma Stone has always been a comedic tour de force — at least according to Jesse Eisenberg.
    Toria Sheffield, People.com, 4 Nov. 2024
Adjective
  • Other clever design touches are everywhere, from plastic guyline clips made from a material that won’t crack even in temperatures as low as negative 60 Fahrenheit, to wraparound snowflaps that enable you to set the tent up without stakes in deep snow.
    Wes Siler, Outside Online, 6 Nov. 2024
  • She’s built a clever brand for herself now as the nice grandma who knows everything there is to know about rose gardens but also has done hard time and is friends with Snoop.
    Constance Grady, Vox, 4 Nov. 2024
Adjective
  • Though there are many examples that are less amusing.
    Allie Garfinkle, Fortune, 5 Nov. 2024
  • Hausman notes that the algorithm does not work perfectly, and like modern chatbots, the robots sometimes fail in surprising and amusing ways.
    Will Knight, WIRED, 31 Oct. 2024
Adjective
  • To a normal person outside of politics, that sounds comical.
    Marco Rubio, Newsweek, 1 Nov. 2024
  • But the wedding, of course, had some comical complications.
    Marc Berman, Forbes, 28 Oct. 2024
Adjective
  • To name just one example: After an opening act filled with lurid cartel violence, Emilia Pérez gives us a comic number about gender-reassignment surgery.
    Nate Jones, Vulture, 9 Nov. 2024
  • Is that going to be a straight adaptation or a comic version?
    Frank DiGiacomo, Billboard, 5 Nov. 2024
Adjective
  • Dressed in a white denim jacket and jeans, Armisen didn’t do a traditional stand-up set but took the audience of more than 800 people on an absurdist, entertaining ride.
    Sal Pizarro, The Mercury News, 6 Nov. 2024
  • No matter what, this thread is an entertaining read.
    Jason P. Frank, Vulture, 6 Nov. 2024

Thesaurus Entries Near humorous

Cite this Entry

“Humorous.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/humorous. Accessed 21 Nov. 2024.

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