Synonyms of witty

witty

adjective

ˈwi-tē 

as in humorous

given to or marked by mature intelligent humor

a witty and sardonic blogger who never fails to amuse his legion of readers

he's well-known for his witty retorts

Synonyms & Similar Words

• humorous
• clever
• funny
• playful
• amusing
• smart
• jocular
• facetious
• joking
• mischievous
• comical
• entertaining
• comic
• cerebral
• ridiculous
• hysterical
• intellectual
• droll
• teasing
• highbrow
• frivolous
• laughing
• merry
• jovial
• uproarious
• riotous
• ludicrous
• farcical
• jolly
• rollicking
• mirthful
• whimsical
• antic
• jocose
• flippant
• laughable
• bantering
• screaming
• jesting
• risible
• waggish
• sidesplitting
• sparkling
• sunny
• joshing
• prankish
• highbrowed
• flip
• diverting
• jocund
• scintillating
• pert
• smart-alecky
• smart-aleck

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• stupid
• witless
• brainless
• lame
• lowbrow
• corny
• hackneyed
• serious
• humorless
• unfunny
• earnest
• solemn
• somber
• hackney
• sober
• sombre
• serious-minded
• unamusing
• grave
• plaintive
• doleful
• tearful
• dolorous
• sorry
• lachrymose
• woeful
• uncomic

Synonym Chooser

How is the word witty distinct from other similar adjectives?

Some common synonyms of witty are facetious, humorous, jocose, and jocular. While all these words mean "provoking or intended to provoke laughter," witty suggests cleverness and quickness of mind.

a witty remark

When would facetious be a good substitute for witty?

The words facetious and witty can be used in similar contexts, but facetious stresses a desire to produce laughter and may be derogatory in implying dubious or ill-timed attempts at wit or humor.

facetious comments

When might humorous be a better fit than witty?

The words humorous and witty are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, humorous applies broadly to anything that evokes usually genial laughter and may contrast with witty in suggesting whimsicality or eccentricity.

humorous anecdotes

How do jocose and facetious relate to one another, in the sense of witty?

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

jocose proposals

When is it sensible to use jocular instead of witty?

The meanings of jocular and witty largely overlap; however, jocular implies a usually habitual fondness for jesting and joking.

a jocular fellow

Examples Sentences

Recent Examples of witty

Still, the judges keep the fans coming back for their witty and entertaining critiques, and guest judges are no different. —Braedon Montgomery, Forbes, 28 Dec. 2024

In the nineteen-seventies, Jamison was the company’s star: statuesque and superhuman, yet warm and witty. —The New Yorker, 20 Dec. 2024

Lemony Snicket’s The Latke Who Couldn’t Stop Screaming: A Christmas Story: $16.67 This quirky and witty tale blends Hanukkah and Christmas traditions through the adventures of a talking latke. —Jené Luciani Sena, Fox News, 19 Dec. 2024

But even then, some of the talk is witty and instructive, building toward a resolution that, if not happy, feels conciliatory and hard-earned, while true to its characters’ flaws and vanities. —Guy Lodge, Variety, 27 Dec. 2024