1
as in harlequin
a comically dressed performer (as at a circus) who entertains with playful tricks and ridiculous behavior
a clown wearing big floppy shoes and a red wig
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2
as in bastard
a person whose behavior is offensive to others
you should stay away from that clown
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1
2
as in to cut up
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Examples Sentences
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Recent Examples of clown
Lucy Ford, TIME, 20 Dec. 2024
Theaters obliged by dropping the latter; and stars such as Joseph Grimaldi and his slapstick ilk gradually moved over to circus entertainment, where clown work fit right in.
—The Editors, JSTOR Daily, 18 Dec. 2024
Bethy Squires, Vulture, 16 July 2024
So when clowning, remember Swift is a smart business woman.
—Bryan West, The Tennessean, 20 June 2024
See all Example Sentences for clown 
Noun
Taking place 27 years before Stephen King’s original novel (because Pennywise only shows up in 27-year intervals), the show will explore the town’s first sightings and experiences with the dancing clown.
—Lucy Ford, TIME, 20 Dec. 2024
Theaters obliged by dropping the latter; and stars such as Joseph Grimaldi and his slapstick ilk gradually moved over to circus entertainment, where clown work fit right in.
—The Editors, JSTOR Daily, 18 Dec. 2024
Verb
To paraphrase a French clowning instructor, a little cursive singing is okay, but a lot is more difficult.
—Bethy Squires, Vulture, 16 July 2024
So when clowning, remember Swift is a smart business woman.
—Bryan West, The Tennessean, 20 June 2024
See all Example Sentences for clown
Recent Examples of Synonyms for clown
Noun
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But this harlequin moll can’t match Joker’s lunacy as either lawbreaker or musician.Armond White, National Review, 29 Nov. 2024
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The doll, which is called the Witch Weaver, wears flared bell-bottoms, a gossamer harlequin blouse, gold waistcoat and crystal headpiece — taking inspiration from Reed’s signature design codes, personal style and even Lady Gaga.Violet Goldstone, WWD, 21 Nov. 2024
Verb
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Cursory knowledge masquerading as wisdom in an organization never turns out well.Doug Sundheim, Forbes, 18 Jan. 2025
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For Truth, a day of action calling to stop lies to masquerade as truth in social media, real life, and politics.Michael Gfoeller And David H. Rundell, Newsweek, 15 Jan. 2025
Verb
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Contra Costa County Central Contra Costa Solid Waste Authority has asked its customers to cut up their trees and place them in the organics cart for a month-long effort to clean up Christmas trees.Chase Hunter, The Mercury News, 3 Jan. 2025
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At Dos Reales the process begins the night before when the pork and other ingredients are cut up and refrigerated overnight.Lisa Gutierrez, Kansas City Star, 2 Jan. 2025
Noun
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So my place is to play this role of be the little buffoon every now and then.Outside Online, Outside Online, 21 Nov. 2024
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There are colorful characters, but no bombastic buffoons.Longreads, Longreads, 15 Nov. 2024
Noun
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Symptoms include: Hallucinations or delusions Increased heart rate Nausea, vomiting, or diarrhea Dizziness Muscle jerks Sweating or flushing Seizures Effexor is not approved for children but is sometimes used off-label for anxiety and depression disorders.Jessica Swirble, Verywell Health, 17 Jan. 2025
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Among the new food items on sale during the Seven Seas Food Festival will be Jamaican jerk chicken and pork pincho at the Caribbean Market; garlic toast chicken parmigiana (Italian Market), strawberry pouffe (Irish Market) and veggie samosas (Indian market).Dewayne Bevil, Orlando Sentinel, 15 Jan. 2025
Verb
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To demonstrate, Snoop stood up and mimed placing a shower cap over a smoke detector, humorously acting out the move by climbing onto Kimmel’s couch, drawing roaring laughter from the audience.Jessica Lynch, Billboard, 3 Sep. 2019
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Cast members Mikey Day and Chloe Fineman join Short for the first skit of the night, all three caught in a face-off over a parking spot in which they’re forced to mime their insults and threats to one another from the comfort of their vehicles.Harrison Richlin, IndieWire, 22 Dec. 2024
Verb
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Among racing’s many problems is that there are no dedicated air shipping companies that make moving horses around the country easy.John Cherwa, Los Angeles Times, 25 Dec. 2024
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Video went viral just days before the beginning of the 2024 Paris Olympics, where Dujardin was seen repeatedly whipping a horse around its legs.Scott Thompson, Fox News, 5 Dec. 2024
Noun
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Josh Haskell, a reporter for the Los Angeles affiliate ABC7, posted a photo of Hader on X and recounted the crew's run-in with the comedian.Ashley Hume, Fox News, 12 Jan. 2025
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While Brand is often associated with his ex-wife and pop star Katy Perry, the comedian has been married to Laura Brand since 2017.Yaakov Katz, Newsweek, 12 Jan. 2025
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Cite this Entry
“Clown.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/clown. Accessed 21 Jan. 2025.
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