1
as in comedy
humorous entertainment
an actor whose roles range from slapstick to serious drama
Synonyms & Similar Words
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2
as in hijinks
wildly playful or mischievous behavior
a lowbrow comedy that relies heavily on slapstick for its laughs
Synonyms & Similar Words
as in zany
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of slapstick
Christian Lewis, Variety, 28 Mar. 2025
Its cataclysmic science-fiction premise hinges on the loopiest of ideas, which is the Looney Tunes formula in a nutshell: Take a popular conceit and send it spinning in a cracked direction with warp-speed slapstick and throw-everything-at-the-wall humor.
—Bilge Ebiri, Vulture, 13 Mar. 2025
His film debut came in the slapstick comedy Top Secret!
—Tim Lammers, Forbes.com, 2 Apr. 2025
The main romance is dull, but there’s plenty of fun slapstick and creative set-pieces in John Hughes’ script to make up for it.
—Barry Levitt, TIME, 21 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for slapstick
Noun
Throughout, Snook hams for laughs, turning Wilde’s witticisms and epigrams into slapstick.
—Christian Lewis, Variety, 28 Mar. 2025
Its cataclysmic science-fiction premise hinges on the loopiest of ideas, which is the Looney Tunes formula in a nutshell: Take a popular conceit and send it spinning in a cracked direction with warp-speed slapstick and throw-everything-at-the-wall humor.
—Bilge Ebiri, Vulture, 13 Mar. 2025
His film debut came in the slapstick comedy Top Secret!
—Tim Lammers, Forbes.com, 2 Apr. 2025
The main romance is dull, but there’s plenty of fun slapstick and creative set-pieces in John Hughes’ script to make up for it.
—Barry Levitt, TIME, 21 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for slapstick
Recent Examples of Synonyms for slapstick
Noun
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Talkback sold to Fremantle (then Pearson Television) and Fincham became CEO of Talkback Thames, which made comedies and the likes of The X Factor and Britain’s Got Talent for ITV and long-running police drama The Bill.—
Jesse Whittock,
Deadline,
10 Apr. 2025
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Lorre, a veteran comedy creator, executive producer and writer, will speak as part of the Summit Series at the 46th edition of Banff from June 8 to 11, 2025.—
Etan Vlessing,
HollywoodReporter,
10 Apr. 2025
Adjective
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While this sketch could have been simple, there are a lot of zany jokes that build on the premise, including Black being a racist cartoonist and holding too many hotdogs.—
Rosa Escandon,
Forbes.com,
6 Apr. 2025
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The zany, sometimes nonsensical lyrics, written by Pete Wentz, were paired with an equally quirky music video, telling the story of a guy with antlers crushing on a girl whose dad hates him for it.—
Angela Andaloro,
People.com,
4 Apr. 2025
Noun
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Instead of shaping stories that convince, craft absorbing narratives that evoke raw emotion—humor, suspense, passion, disgust and even fear.—
Expert Panel®,
Forbes.com,
21 Apr. 2025
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Like a Dickensian Andy Capp, Johnson is an uber-charming rogue, an everyman bluesy belter whose winking humor with a hint of the scoundrel are not entirely unlike Scott’s demeanor, though each man’s vocals, inflection and stage presence are/were clearly their own.—
Katherine Turman,
Los Angeles Times,
20 Apr. 2025
Adjective
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The suit also paints a clownish portrait of the entrepreneur, portraying him as pompous, shameless, and untrustworthy.—
Rachel Corbett,
Vulture,
16 Apr. 2025
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But Victor leans less into clownish mortification than her predecessors, making room instead for a delicate quietude and sincerity.—
Jon Frosch,
The Hollywood Reporter,
3 Sep. 2019
Noun
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The story works less as a Hollywood satire than as a survival thriller.—
Ben Rosenstock,
Vulture,
10 Apr. 2025
-
Scottish actor Capaldi, the twelfth Doctor in the Doctor Who universe (2013–2017), won several awards, including a British Academy Television Award, for his performance as Malcolm Tucker in the beloved satire The Thick of It (2005–2012).—
Randall Colburn,
EW.com,
10 Apr. 2025
Adjective
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Also amusing is Fiona Glascott as Lady Violet, an old acquaintance of Sherlock’s who specializes officially in schooling young ladies like Clara to join British high society and unofficially in casting her imperious judgment everywhere.—
Angie Han,
HollywoodReporter,
15 Apr. 2025
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And while the vision of Young, a vigorous 70 in his trademark schoolboy shorts, tie, crew socks and black shoes, is always amusing, there was nothing but serious respect for his finger-blistering playing.—
Melissa Ruggieri,
USA Today,
11 Apr. 2025
Noun
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His is a sort of erudite buffoonery that consistently tap-dances between clever, self-aware, and patently stupid.—
David Sims,
The Atlantic,
22 Mar. 2025
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There is, in fact, real stagecraft along with the buffoonery.—
Susan B. Glasser,
The New Yorker,
20 Mar. 2025
Adjective
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Instead, Stratton has noticeably regressed as WWE Women’s Champion after a very entertaining run as Ms. Money in the Bank.—
Blake Oestriecher,
Forbes.com,
19 Apr. 2025
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Beautiful glassware/barware and accessories for a table or entertaining space are still strong sellers.—
Maggie Gillette,
Better Homes & Gardens,
19 Apr. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Slapstick.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/slapstick. Accessed 27 Apr. 2025.
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