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
Hunter Clauss, Los Angeles Times, 23 Oct. 2024
The archetype of the killer clown might seem overdone, but Art the Clown of the Terrifier franchise has emerged as a contemporary horror icon, up there with Chucky, Freddy, Jason, Jigsaw and Pennywise.
—Dani Di Placido, Forbes, 22 Oct. 2024
Karen D'souza, The Mercury News, 23 Sep. 2024
Nicki Minaj and Ice Spice fans clowned the Atlanta rapper for her low first-week sales projections.
—Armon Sadler, VIBE.com, 15 Aug. 2024
See all Example Sentences for clown 
Noun
After beating the Mets to reach the World Series, several Dodgers players wore clown masks designed by legendary L.A. artist Mister Cartoon.
—Hunter Clauss, Los Angeles Times, 23 Oct. 2024
The archetype of the killer clown might seem overdone, but Art the Clown of the Terrifier franchise has emerged as a contemporary horror icon, up there with Chucky, Freddy, Jason, Jigsaw and Pennywise.
—Dani Di Placido, Forbes, 22 Oct. 2024
Verb
Carbajal does some dapper clowning around and Morales-Woolery is a very funny faux pugilist but the comedy never quite catches fire.
—Karen D'souza, The Mercury News, 23 Sep. 2024
Nicki Minaj and Ice Spice fans clowned the Atlanta rapper for her low first-week sales projections.
—Armon Sadler, VIBE.com, 15 Aug. 2024
See all Example Sentences for clown
Recent Examples of Synonyms for clown
Noun
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These days, costumes range from fairy-tale characters, clowns and harlequins to Napoleonic soldiers and celebrities.Matt Ralphs, Smithsonian Magazine, 10 Oct. 2024
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This leather pair, covered with jewels arranged in a harlequin pattern, is a unique spin on the trend.Esme Benjamin, Peoplemag, 16 July 2024
Verb
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Most were created by the advertising networks, with some pages masquerading as government entities.Craig Silverman, ProPublica, 31 Oct. 2024
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The My Old Ass psychedelic sequence features an entire choreographed routine, with Stella masquerading as the pop star, complete with iconic purple and white outfit, and bouquet of flowers for a crying fan.Tim Chan, Rolling Stone, 3 Oct. 2024
Verb
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Then, Craig allegedly purchased a chainsaw on Amazon and cut up her mother’s body in the basement, Hardy testified.Christine Pelisek, People.com, 1 Nov. 2024
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What does everyone else need to be watching / reading / playing / baking / cutting up with scissors this week?David Pierce, The Verge, 27 Oct. 2024
Noun
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Meanwhile, countries across the world are again suffering an onslaught of demagogues, many of them preening buffoons who have recast themselves as visionary strongmen—much as D’Annunzio did.Pankaj Mishra, Foreign Affairs, 17 Oct. 2016
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Even if the author wrote in paragraph-length, punctuation-free sentences of Biblical prose, and the filmmakers prefer to express themselves through rambling conversations between cinematic buffoons, their work is bound together by an exacting consideration to every word.IndieWire Staff, IndieWire, 12 Aug. 2024
Noun
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Or averred that Biden was sharp as a tack and that anyone who suggested otherwise was a jerk.Bret Stephens, The Mercury News, 7 Nov. 2024
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The extra that was shot by accident earlier this season was one such obnoxious jerk.Erik Kain, Forbes, 21 Oct. 2024
Verb
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In moments like that, Walker’s character might be miming about fisting, but The Big Gay Jamboree’s heart is on its sleeve.Jackson McHenry, Vulture, 8 Oct. 2024
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Most of us were able to chat and wander around in the virtual space together, but one person was stuck miming and occasionally pinging us in Slack.Eric Ravenscraft, WIRED, 3 Jan. 2023
Verb
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After five teenage boys are shown horsing around on a Malibu beach for a few seconds, the shot dissolves into Liam’s perfect coif, his unbuttoned shirt, his disarming smile.Jason Lipshutz, Billboard, 3 Sep. 2019
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The Game of Thrones alum, 28, was seen horsing around with the British aristocrat at a polo match at his family's estate in West Sussex, England on Saturday, June 29.Esther Kang, Peoplemag, 3 July 2024
Noun
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In the dying days of the race, Trump’s campaign may have suffered an unforced error following a mass rally at Madison Square Garden that alienated Puerto Ricans and Hispanics more generally following offensive remarks by a comedian invited to address the crowd.Christiaan Hetzner, Fortune, 5 Nov. 2024
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Berks County includes Reading, which has a large Latino and Hispanic population, and could offer a test case over whether a comedian’s controversial comments about Puerto Rico at Trump’s Madison Square Garden rally last month could impact the former president.Caroline Vakil, The Hill, 5 Nov. 2024
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Cite this Entry
“Clown.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/clown. Accessed 21 Nov. 2024.
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