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humor

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verb

as in to cater (to)
to give in to (a desire) humored her grandfather by listening to his war stories for the hundredth time

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Synonym Chooser

How does the noun humor differ from other similar words?

Some common synonyms of humor are irony, repartee, sarcasm, satire, and wit. While all these words mean "a mode of expression intended to arouse amusement," humor implies an ability to perceive the ludicrous, the comical, and the absurd in human life and to express these usually without bitterness.

a sense of humor

When could irony be used to replace humor?

While in some cases nearly identical to humor, irony applies to a manner of expression in which the intended meaning is the opposite of what is seemingly expressed.

the irony of the title

When might repartee be a better fit than humor?

The words repartee and humor can be used in similar contexts, but repartee implies the power of answering quickly, pointedly, or wittily.

a dinner guest noted for repartee

Where would sarcasm be a reasonable alternative to humor?

Although the words sarcasm and humor have much in common, sarcasm applies to expression frequently in the form of irony that is intended to cut or wound.

given to heartless sarcasm

In what contexts can satire take the place of humor?

The synonyms satire and humor are sometimes interchangeable, but satire applies to writing that exposes or ridicules conduct, doctrines, or institutions either by direct criticism or more often through irony, parody, or caricature.

a satire on the Congress

When can wit be used instead of humor?

The meanings of wit and humor largely overlap; however, wit suggests the power to evoke laughter by remarks showing verbal felicity or ingenuity and swift perception especially of the incongruous.

a playful wit

Examples Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of humor
Noun
Movies At Telluride, ‘Conclave’ pleases, even if other Oscar hopefuls aren’t ready for prime time Sept. 1, 2024 Early on, Callas parried these inquisitions with humor. Amy Nicholson, Los Angeles Times, 28 Nov. 2024 Blend humor, vulnerability and appreciation to create a unified, inclusive environment. Expert Panel®, Forbes, 21 Nov. 2024
Verb
Women of Wrestling show in 2000 mainly to humor close friend David McLane, a businessman and promoter who started WOW as a successor to his successful Gorgeous Ladies of Wrestling program from years earlier. Chuck Schilken, Los Angeles Times, 13 Sep. 2024 An experienced camper, Sam takes the change in stride, spending much of the weekend—and the movie’s 90-minute run time—observing and humoring the middle-aged men. Shirley Li, The Atlantic, 12 Aug. 2024 See all Example Sentences for humor 
Recent Examples of Synonyms for humor
Noun
  • The writers behind some of this year’s hottest comedy series took on Variety’s A Night in the Writers Room: Awards Season Edition to discuss the landscape of laughter on TV.
    Ethan Shanfeld, Variety, 6 Dec. 2024
  • The singer’s 50-minute segment, A Nonsense Christmas With Sabrina Carpenter, streaming as of the evening of Friday, Dec. 6 contained several familiar faces, both musically and in the comedy and acting worlds.
    Dessi Gomez, Deadline, 6 Dec. 2024
Noun
  • In the spirit of holiday giving, the team invites their community to nominate and vote for upstanding charitable organizations that support mothers.
    Hilary Tetenbaum, USA TODAY, 11 Dec. 2024
  • While plenty of drinkers crowd the bar area, lots of Guinness also flows upstairs at the gastropub, which has the spirit of a French village restaurant.
    Hikmat Mohammed, WWD, 10 Dec. 2024
Noun
  • The whims of the housing market affect retailers, too: Home goods stores may not fare well if people aren’t buying, renovating and decorating new homes, Cox said.
    Greg Iacurci,Lorie Konish, CNBC, 26 Nov. 2024
  • Still, blocking Trump appointments on any ground would require an uncommon level of daring from G.O.P. lawmakers, who have mostly been unwilling to defy even the most brazen whims of the President-elect.
    Dhruv Khullar, The New Yorker, 24 Nov. 2024
Noun
  • And the irony is, indigenous communities that want to go home and protect their forests produce better carbon stats than the technocrats.
    Nemonte Nenquimo, WIRED, 29 Nov. 2024
  • The irony of Moreno leap-frogging his freshman colleagues is not lost on him, either.
    David Sivak, Washington Examiner - Political News and Conservative Analysis About Congress, the President, and the Federal Government, 29 Nov. 2024
Noun
  • Staples turns that set-up into a hilarious and slightly surreal satire about the challenges facing Black entrepreneurs.
    EW Staff, EW.com, 5 Dec. 2024
  • Sacks produced the satire Thank You for Smoking and Daliland.
    Ted Johnson, Deadline, 5 Dec. 2024
Noun
  • The mood on Wall Street was generally upbeat about the housing picture.
    Jeff Cox, CNBC, 11 Dec. 2024
  • The Charcuterie Shift Smoked meats and soft cheeses instantly elevate any party, and a Christmas charcuterie board will set the celebratory mood early in the day.
    Rai Mincey, Forbes, 10 Dec. 2024
Noun
  • Take the elliptical staircase—capped by dual skylights—to reach each floor where the rooms mirror something out of a storybook with touches of whimsy and elegance.
    Demetrius Simms, Robb Report, 6 Dec. 2024
  • Gift him some self-care, stylish essentials, or a dose of whimsy this holiday season.
    L.A. Hubilla, People.com, 5 Dec. 2024
Verb
  • As the Lipstick Index theory goes, purchases of small luxuries (like lipstick and other makeup) often increase during economic slumps, potentially as a way to indulge on a budget.
    Ashley Abramson, Allure, 25 Nov. 2024
  • Always, there was mention about a bottle of wine on a kitchen counter, or an liquor cabinet left open for guests to indulge.
    Brienne Walsh, Forbes, 25 Nov. 2024

Thesaurus Entries Near humor

Cite this Entry

“Humor.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/humor. Accessed 14 Dec. 2024.

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