gallows humor

noun

: humor that makes fun of a life-threatening, disastrous, or terrifying situation

Examples of gallows humor in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
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.
Both the broad comedy of romantic rivalry and the gallows humor of immigration-system bureaucracy are tempered by moments of community and transcendence. Judy Berman, TIME, 3 Feb. 2025 But Lynskey also happens to be a terrifically entertaining writer, with a requisite sense of gallows humor. Jennifer Szalai, New York Times, 22 Jan. 2025 In dark times, a dose of gallows humor also never hurts. Cynthia Littleton, Variety, 13 Jan. 2025 The way that the two of us coped with those hospital stays was often making each other laugh and gallows humor. Proma Khosla, IndieWire, 18 Dec. 2024 See all Example Sentences for gallows humor 

Word History

First Known Use

1901, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of gallows humor was in 1901

Dictionary Entries Near gallows humor

Cite this Entry

“Gallows humor.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/gallows%20humor. Accessed 11 Feb. 2025.

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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