Synonyms of fun

fun 1 of 3

noun

ˈfən 

1

as in entertainment

someone or something that provides amusement or enjoyment

theme parks with their rides, shows, and games are great fun for the whole family

Synonyms & Similar Words

• entertainment
• delight
• diversion
• recreation
• pleasure
• picnic
• activity
• distraction
• divertissement
• festivity
• lark
• pastime
• escape
• romp
• rollicking
• hilarity
• game
• gayety
• revel
• merrymaking
• frolic
• laugh
• revelry
• spree
• riot
• jollity
• fling
• carousing
• scream
• frolicking
• rollick
• conviviality
• jollification
• revelling
• gaiety
• binge
• reveling
• time killer
• gambol
• whoopee

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• bore
• drag
• bummer
• downer
• killjoy
• party pooper

2

as in play

an attitude or manner not to be taken seriously

when I said that playing the piano like that could get you arrested, I only said it in fun

Synonyms & Similar Words

• play
• game
• sport
• silliness
• frivolity
• jest
• levity
• flippancy
• frivolousness
• facetiousness
• light-mindedness
• flightiness
• frothiness

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• earnest
• gravity
• seriousness
• earnestness
• solemnity
• sobriety
• soberness

3

as in relaxation

activity engaged in to amuse oneself

came outside to where we were playing touch football and joined the fun

Synonyms & Similar Words

• relaxation
• recreation
• amusement
• entertainment
• play
• enjoyment
• pleasure
• sport
• rollicking
• playfulness
• frolic
• frolicking
• delight
• dalliance
• hobby
• fun and games
• diversion
• mischief
• pastime
• romping
• kick
• hilarity
• deviltry
• merriment
• devilment
• revel
• lark
• hijinks
• merrymaking
• pleasance
• revelry
• tomfoolery
• jinks
• hobbyhorse
• spree
• mischievousness
• gambolling
• horseplay
• gamboling
• buffoonery
• fling
• high jinks
• rascality
• friskiness
• wantonness
• hob
• devilry
• hanky-panky
• sportiveness
• binge
• rollick
• knavery
• roguishness
• whoopee
• impishness
• waggery

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• work
• labor
• drudgery
• responsibility
• duty
• obligation

4

as in commotion

a state of noisy, confused activity

the fun really began when the deer broke out of its pen and started wandering down the street

Synonyms & Similar Words

• commotion
• hurry
• stir
• disturbance
• fuss
• turmoil
• noise
• to-do
• storm
• racket
• zoo
• clatter
• clutter
• hurricane
• bother
• row
• hoopla
• ruckus
• bustle
• splore
• hubbub
• ado
• whirl
• pandemonium
• flurry
• blather
• roar
• rumpus
• shindy
• hullabaloo
• uproar
• coil
• furore
• tumult
• hurry-skurry
• stew
• do
• kerfuffle
• bobbery
• corroboree
• pother
• hurly-burly
• furor
• squall
• hurry-scurry
• hoo-hah
• hoo-ha
• ballyhoo
• foofaraw
• moil
• alarums and excursions
• helter-skelter
• bluster
• welter
• upheaval
• ruction
• hurly
• howl
• outcry
• cacophony
• brawl
• unrest
• hubble-bubble
• williwaw
• clamor
• disorder
• eruption
• hue and cry
• flutter
• din
• fray
• outbreak
• melee
• hassle
• scuffle
• outburst
• fever
• mêlée
• tizzy
• fret
• lather
• fracas
• flare-up
• dither

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• rest
• peace
• quiet
• calm
• tranquillity
• tranquility
• stillness
• hush
• order
• quietude
• orderliness

fun

2 of 3

adjective

as in amusing

providing amusement or enjoyment

there were so many fun things to do at summer camp that the kids really hated to leave

Synonyms & Similar Words

• amusing
• enjoyable
• delightful
• entertaining
• exciting
• nice
• funny
• pleasurable
• pleasant
• happy
• merry
• humorous
• welcome
• diverting
• recreational
• ridiculous
• satisfying
• hilarious
• beguiling
• sunny
• agreeable
• comic
• comical
• riotous
• jolly
• thrilling
• ludicrous
• jovial
• gleeful
• laughable
• farcical
• uproarious
• stimulating
• antic
• mirthful
• droll
• sidesplitting
• risible
• jocose
• jocund
• blithesome
• gay

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• boring
• tedious
• tiresome
• dull
• heavy
• monotonous
• tiring
• uninteresting
• weary
• dreary
• flat
• drab
• wearisome
• humdrum
• stodgy
• stuffy
• ponderous
• pedestrian
• leaden
• unpleasant
• pleasureless
• disagreeable
• wearying
• distasteful
• unwelcome
• jading
• uncongenial
• unpleasing
• unlovely
• displeasing

fun

3 of 3

verb

as in to joke

to make jokes

just a couple of old friends funning with each other

Synonyms & Similar Words

• joke
• jolly
• banter
• kid
• fool
• jest
• quip
• yuck
• crack wise
• amuse
• tease
• jive
• wisecrack
• jape
• gag
• ridicule
• entertain
• yuk
• rag
• parody
• josh
• chaff
• jibe
• mock
• jeer
• razz
• satirize
• caricature
• gibe
• haze
• rib
• rally
• lampoon
• divert

Try This Instead

For

Try This

fun people

friendly people

cool people

happy people

interesting people

festive people

fun appetizers

yummy appetizers

delicious appetizers

tasty appetizers

fancy appetizers

creative appetizers

fun neighborhoods

quirky neighborhoods

lively neighborhoods

trendy neighborhoods

charming neighborhoods

cool neighborhoods

Synonym Chooser

How does the noun fun differ from other similar words?

Some common synonyms of fun are game, jest, play, and sport. While all these words mean "action or speech that provides amusement or arouses laughter," fun usually implies laughter or gaiety but may imply merely a lack of serious or ulterior purpose.

played cards just for fun

How do game and sport relate to one another, in the sense of fun?

Game is close to sport, and often stresses mischievous or malicious fun.

made game of their poor relations

When can jest be used instead of fun?

The words jest and fun can be used in similar contexts, but jest implies lack of earnestness and may suggest a hoaxing or teasing.

hurt by remarks said only in jest

When might play be a better fit than fun?

In some situations, the words play and fun are roughly equivalent. However, play stresses the opposition to earnest without implying any malice or mischief.

pretended to strangle his brother in play

In what contexts can sport take the place of fun?

The synonyms sport and fun are sometimes interchangeable, but sport applies especially to the arousing of laughter against someone.

teasing begun in sport led to anger

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of fun

Noun

On the rare occasions when politics did intrude, the context was fittingly fun-loving. —Mark Leibovich, The Atlantic, 31 Mar. 2025

Amid all the fun, you're bound to get hungry. —Madalyn Mendoza, Axios, 31 Mar. 2025

Adjective

Talking about winning games by 70 points is fun in early April. —Sean Hammond, Chicago Tribune, 8 Apr. 2025

Therefore, Betfair’s special of 10 or more saves made by both goalkeepers combined, priced at 16/1, is an incredibly fun option. —Sam Tighe, New York Times, 8 Apr. 2025

Phrases Containing fun

• fun and games
• make fun of
• poke fun at

Video

Fun, Funner, Funnest

Why does it sound strange to say 'funner' or 'funnest?'