jesting 1 of 3

adjective

Definition of jestingnext
as in joking
marked by or expressive of mild or good-natured teasing made jesting comments about my need for serious fashion advice

Synonyms & Similar Words

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jesting

2 of 3

noun

as in joke
good-natured teasing or exchanging of clever remarks lots of laughter and elbow-nudging jesting at family reunions

Synonyms & Similar Words

jesting

3 of 3

verb

present participle of jest
as in bantering
to make jokes when I asked my sister for a loan, she laughingly replied, "Surely you jest!"

Synonyms & Similar Words

Examples Sentences

Recent Examples of Synonyms for jesting
  1. joke
  2. joking
  3. sarcastic
  4. laugh
  5. raillery
  6. banter
  7. badinage
  8. repartee
Noun
  • Humor is a helpful tool in dealing with tension and stress, so making jokes about an incident that can help manage the feelings of cognitive dissonance and helplessness news like this can elicit.
    Callum Booth, Forbes, 13 Jan. 2025
  • Speaking over Zoom, Vidal told me that in 2019 many people took Trump’s suggestion about buying Greenland as a joke.
    John Cassidy, The New Yorker, 13 Jan. 2025
Definition of joke
Verb
  • Nile and Bernard seemed like best friends, always joking and very excited.
    David Browne, Rolling Stone, 22 Dec. 2024
  • Not just the kind of vaudevillian two guys joking around with each other on stage, but even just as individual comedians.
    Justin Koreis, Rolling Stone, 21 Dec. 2024
Definition of joking
Adjective
  • But Baldoni alleges that the Times ignored additional context in the same text exchange that indicates Nathan and Abel were joking and being sarcastic.
    Brian Welk, IndieWire, 31 Dec. 2024
  • Frustrated that people do not believe his consistent response to the same question, his tone grew sarcastic.
    Emmanuel Morgan, New York Times, 26 Dec. 2024
Definition of sarcastic
Noun
  • The fake laugh would be ‘gasp gasp,’ a kind of inhale.
    Susan Morrison, The New Yorker, 13 Jan. 2025
  • Rivers said with a laugh before his Bucks’ faced Thibodeau’s Knicks at Madison Square Garden.
    Peter Sblendorio, New York Daily News, 12 Jan. 2025
Definition of laugh
Noun
  • With time, their caustic raillery transforms into sincere attachment.
    Charlie Tyson, The Atlantic, 13 May 2021
  • French’s evocation of place, a rural way of life and overall creepiness are superb, as is the dialogue, a festival of Irish raillery and repartee.
    Washington Post, Washington Post, 14 Oct. 2020
Definition of raillery
Noun
  • The comedian managed to balance the fine line between making a critical commentary on Hollywood while also keeping the banter light.
    Katherine Singh, refinery29.com, 6 Jan. 2025
  • But for whatever reason, the banter on the teleprompter isn't really landing.
    Daniel Arkin, NBC News, 6 Jan. 2025
Definition of banter
Noun
  • In The Kitchen, Wesker tracked the decorum from friendly badinage to hostile vernacular that co-workers sustain just to get through the day.
    Armond White, National Review, 30 Oct. 2024
  • While Hawley hasn’t left behind any of his signature philosophical dialogue or memorable badinage, Season 5 is also the most reliant on the camera to make its points.
    Jim Hemphill, IndieWire, 13 Aug. 2024
Definition of badinage
Noun
  • The audience was often in stitches thanks to her witty repartee—and Stewart has given his seal of approval.
    Billie Schwab Dunn, Newsweek, 6 Jan. 2025
  • The resulting series has a lot of fun with its premise, boosted even further by the affectionate repartee between stars Stephanie Hsu and Zosia Mamet.
    Daniel Fienberg, The Hollywood Reporter, 17 Dec. 2024
Definition of repartee
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.

Thesaurus Entries Near jesting

jesters

jesting

jests

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Cite this Entry

“Jesting.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/jesting. Accessed 17 Jan. 2025.

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More from Merriam-Webster on jesting

Nglish: Translation of jesting for Spanish Speakers

Britannica English: Translation of jesting for Arabic Speakers

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