as in clown
a comically dressed performer (as at a circus) who entertains with playful tricks and ridiculous behavior
among the court entertainers waiting to enter the grand hall were masked harlequins in brightly colored pantaloons
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Recent Examples of harlequin
In these respects, apart from the harlequin excesses of his Stalinism, Cowley is terrifically sound.
—
Vince Passaro, Harpers Magazine, 30 Dec. 2025
That is, until Episode 3, when the terrifying harlequin seems to finally appear from the pitch black depths of a crypt inside the Derry cemetery.
—Katie Campione, Deadline, 9 Nov. 2025
Speaking of South Africa, harlequin flower (Sparaxis tricolor) is another cormaceous plant from that part of the world.
—Joshua Siskin, Oc Register, 25 Oct. 2025
Our first glimpse of Gacy in full harlequin regalia is our last.
—Daniel Fienberg, HollywoodReporter, 15 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for harlequin
Vince Passaro, Harpers Magazine, 30 Dec. 2025
That is, until Episode 3, when the terrifying harlequin seems to finally appear from the pitch black depths of a crypt inside the Derry cemetery.
—Katie Campione, Deadline, 9 Nov. 2025
Speaking of South Africa, harlequin flower (Sparaxis tricolor) is another cormaceous plant from that part of the world.
—Joshua Siskin, Oc Register, 25 Oct. 2025
Our first glimpse of Gacy in full harlequin regalia is our last.
—Daniel Fienberg, HollywoodReporter, 15 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for harlequin
Recent Examples of Synonyms for harlequin
clown
Noun
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Three years have passed since the stadium-sized clown show of the duo’s last record, 10,000 gecs, and Brady’s been feverishly cooking up unlikely collaborations and solo material.—
Kieran Press-Reynolds,
Pitchfork,
27 Mar. 2026
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Christopher Kosakowski, United States, 2025 A circus clown celebrating his birthday alone receives a mysterious gift box harboring an antique zoetrope that spins his world into mayhem.—
William Earl,
Variety,
25 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Harlequin.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/harlequin. Accessed 4 Apr. 2026.
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