Example Sentences

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Recent Examples of clownery Tirhakah Love is a senior writer at New York Magazine and the host of the new evening newsletter Dinner Party, a daily email that touches on all things entertainment — that means film, television, music, tech, and gaming — plus politics and corporate clownery. Vulture, 29 Apr. 2022 The Winx Club live action is a big clownery! Olivia Truffaut-Wong, refinery29.com, 25 Jan. 2021 Allow Yahya Abdul-Mateen II to clarify his remarks about Aquaman being the work of clowns with… some clownery. Jessica Wang, EW.com, 1 Sep. 2022 As for Abdul-Mateen, the clownery will resume for him on Broadway. Jessica Wang, EW.com, 1 Sep. 2022 Chronicle Books In the world of clownery, tradition has long dictated that a clown must never steal another clown’s look. Constance Grady, Vox, 20 Aug. 2018 Seems as if the airlines are still clowning and being targeted with lawsuits because of the clownery. Breanna Edwards, The Root, 14 May 2018 DeVos, the country’s most useless white woman and a case study for how institutions both favor and are eroded by white mediocrity, became the literal face of clownery following the appalling interview. Anne Branigin, The Root, 12 Mar. 2018 Either one of his performances would have been noteworthy, but that the same person should be playing both parts (as well as that of Mr. Wickham) is a truly stupendous piece of quick-change clownery. Terry Teachout, WSJ, 6 July 2017
Recent Examples of Synonyms for clownery
Noun
  • 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
  • There is, in fact, real stagecraft along with the buffoonery.
    Susan B. Glasser, The New Yorker, 20 Mar. 2025
Noun
  • For all his tomfoolery before and after PKs, Loons director of goalkeeping Tom Fawdry was impressed with St. Clair’s poise in the big moment.
    Andy Greder, Twin Cities, 28 Mar. 2025
  • Venerable baby boomer Kevin Bacon plays the titular bounty hunter Hub Halloran, a proud Georgia man with little tolerance for tomfoolery and a hatred of the Red Sox.
    Kelly Lawler, USA TODAY, 17 Mar. 2025
Noun
  • The action anime feature for everyone who couldn’t get enough of the horseplay in The Two Towers has finally cantered onto Max.
    Savannah Salazar, Vulture, 1 Mar. 2025
  • Key speeches are faithfully delivered to an audience of two, not thousands; a scene of soldiers destructively revelling on a bridge is given a different spirit by ironic, out-of-time horseplay.
    Guy Lodge, Variety, 8 Feb. 2025
Noun
  • The brand’s monkey business button-up collared shirt was worn by Blackpink’s Lisa in one of the opening scenes of the premiere episode.
    Julia Teti, WWD, 19 Feb. 2025
  • Theo James and Theo James are getting into some serious monkey business.
    Nick Romano, EW.com, 12 Aug. 2024

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Cite this Entry

“Clownery.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/clownery. Accessed 5 Apr. 2025.

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