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 fool
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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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of jester
The show must go on for Fielder, however, who in one of the funniest stretches of the episode studies the congressional testimony of other Hollywood jesters to see how he could be taken seriously.
—
Scott Tobias, Vulture, 19 May 2025
His Nineties art-punk jesters Lifter Puller never made a ripple outside the Twin Cities.
—Rob Sheffield, Rolling Stone, 6 Apr. 2025
Instead of cars on Marshall Street, attendees will find more than 75 artisans and performers — including a fairy trading post, storytellers and a court jester — and a mead pop-up bar.
—Karri Peifer, Axios, 5 Mar. 2025
Bailey, deft and playful, chooses to be his own antic, a droll and often hostile jester.
—Helen Shaw, New Yorker, 17 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for jester
Scott Tobias, Vulture, 19 May 2025
His Nineties art-punk jesters Lifter Puller never made a ripple outside the Twin Cities.
—Rob Sheffield, Rolling Stone, 6 Apr. 2025
Instead of cars on Marshall Street, attendees will find more than 75 artisans and performers — including a fairy trading post, storytellers and a court jester — and a mead pop-up bar.
—Karri Peifer, Axios, 5 Mar. 2025
Bailey, deft and playful, chooses to be his own antic, a droll and often hostile jester.
—Helen Shaw, New Yorker, 17 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for jester
Recent Examples of Synonyms for jester
Noun
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Tonight’s performance is billed as the Killers of Kill Tony, which will feature comedians who have become regulars on his wildly popular comedy competition.—
Frank DiGiacomo,
Billboard,
15 Aug. 2025
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The comedian wrote a short but powerful caption to mark year nine on Instagram in August 2025.—
Essence,
Essence,
15 Aug. 2025
Noun
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From the fans’ perspective, the Yankees are faltering, the Rays are in the tank, the Orioles are tanking, and many view the Blue Jays’ recent run as fool’s gold.—
Dan Freedman,
Forbes.com,
5 Aug. 2025
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Predicting where Liverpool’s wider finances will go in the future is a fool’s errand, not least those elements linked to on-field performance.—
Chris Weatherspoon,
New York Times,
29 July 2025
Noun
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Carnival Midway’s cast of trapeze artists, aerialists, jugglers and clowns perform every hour on the half hour, starting at 1:30 p.m. (on weekends, the show kicks off at 11:30a.m.).—
Alex Schechter,
Travel + Leisure,
14 Aug. 2025
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There’s a patient, dressed as a clown, who has his arm drilled into.—
Jazz Tangcay,
Variety,
7 Aug. 2025
Noun
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Learn more about management options and which food plants are most susceptible to this insect in our harlequin bug on vegetables web page.—
Miri Talabac,
Baltimore Sun,
16 Apr. 2025
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Once infused with the diabolical spirit, the guide is transformed into a buffoon, complete with a harlequin outfit—a mad joker and a dancing fool who does a little jig to the sound of a jazz trio.—
Richard Brody,
The New Yorker,
11 Mar. 2025
Noun
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Best trait: Fluid athleticism A talented joker tight end, Klare is a smooth athlete in the passing game, with a talent for creating space both before and after the catch.—
Dane Brugler,
New York Times,
24 July 2025
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There, Mac takes on a role between Puck and Prospero, donning a joker’s cap to jokingly-and-not unsettle your expectations of how a play should end.—
Jackson McHenry,
Vulture,
13 June 2025
Cite this Entry
“Jester.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/jester. Accessed 21 Aug. 2025.
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