1
as in comedian
a person (as a writer) noted for or specializing in humor
a gentle jester, the cartoonist more often tries to evoke a broad smile than a hearty guffaw
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2
as in clown
a person formerly kept in a royal or noble household to amuse with jests and pranks
the king called for some much-needed entertainment from his jester
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Examples Sentences
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Recent Examples of jester
Either way, Folie à Deux signals the dawn of a new era for the real Joker who killed Arthur, while our anti-hero ended up as but a mere societal outcast, a jester for humiliation the whole time.
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Joey Nolfi, EW.com, 5 Oct. 2024
Fans wouldn’t learn Harley’s origin story until December 1993, when the special standalone B:TAS comic book Mad Love hit shelves, revealing Harley as Harleen Quinzel, a psychiatrist who abandoned her old self to become Joker’s adoring — and heavily abused — jester.
—Samantha Riedel, Them, 3 Oct. 2024
Late-night comics, the Democratic Party’s court jesters, mocked him.
—Matthew Continetti, National Review, 27 July 2024
Reynolds is a court jester who doesn’t know when to stop shaking the bells on his cap.
—Tom Gliatto, Peoplemag, 26 July 2024
See all Example Sentences for jester 
Joey Nolfi, EW.com, 5 Oct. 2024
Fans wouldn’t learn Harley’s origin story until December 1993, when the special standalone B:TAS comic book Mad Love hit shelves, revealing Harley as Harleen Quinzel, a psychiatrist who abandoned her old self to become Joker’s adoring — and heavily abused — jester.
—Samantha Riedel, Them, 3 Oct. 2024
Late-night comics, the Democratic Party’s court jesters, mocked him.
—Matthew Continetti, National Review, 27 July 2024
Reynolds is a court jester who doesn’t know when to stop shaking the bells on his cap.
—Tom Gliatto, Peoplemag, 26 July 2024
See all Example Sentences for jester
Recent Examples of Synonyms for jester
Noun
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Josh Haskell, a reporter for the Los Angeles affiliate ABC7, posted a photo of Hader on X and recounted the crew's run-in with the comedian.Ashley Hume, Fox News, 12 Jan. 2025
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In an exclusive interview with PEOPLE, the actor and comedian, 41, jokes that his recent weight loss was inspired by the possibility that he may one day be needed for a superhero film.Nicholas Rice, People.com, 12 Jan. 2025
Noun
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The story features Mauro, a clown who dreams of a carnival where a parade of revelers are celebrating his life.Joanne Shurvell, Forbes, 6 Jan. 2025
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Both movies feature a killer clown, but while Joaquin Phoenix’s grinning menace suffers from delusions of grandeur and an unspecified mental illness, the hideous ghoul from hell in Terrifier known as Art hacks away at his victims with no discernible motivation beyond the grisly acts themselves.Eric Kohn, The Hollywood Reporter, 6 Jan. 2025
Noun
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Another disaster might make the Steelers or any team fools for casting their lot with Pickens.Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, Orlando Sentinel, 10 Jan. 2025
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Wednesday’s game could be a Finals preview, but predicting June’s outcomes in January feels like a fool’s errand.Steven Louis Goldstein, The Athletic, 8 Jan. 2025
Noun
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But this harlequin moll can’t match Joker’s lunacy as either lawbreaker or musician.Armond White, National Review, 29 Nov. 2024
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The doll, which is called the Witch Weaver, wears flared bell-bottoms, a gossamer harlequin blouse, gold waistcoat and crystal headpiece — taking inspiration from Reed’s signature design codes, personal style and even Lady Gaga.Violet Goldstone, WWD, 21 Nov. 2024
Noun
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The Bob Dylan that the world fell in love with was a thinker, a joker, a fighter, and sometimes a lover.Al Shipley, SPIN, 25 Dec. 2024
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Imagine trying to slide a book on a table while some joker is pushing down on it.Rhett Allain, WIRED, 20 Sep. 2024
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Cite this Entry
“Jester.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/jester. Accessed 17 Jan. 2025.
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