1
as in comedy
humorous entertainment
an actor whose roles range from slapstick to serious drama
Synonyms & Similar Words
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2
as in hijinks
wildly playful or mischievous behavior
a lowbrow comedy that relies heavily on slapstick for its laughs
Synonyms & Similar Words
as in zany
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of slapstick
Charles McNulty, Los Angeles Times, 9 Dec. 2024
Yet alongside the slapstick and door-slamming and precarious vocal gymnastics, Will’s production also accessed the original story’s subversiveness, as well as its heartache.
—Jackson McHenry, Vulture, 5 Dec. 2024
Mixing drama, slapstick and pathos, Gandolfini stars as a deeply shy, highly allergic Circuit-Shack employee desperate to ask his colleague, played by Olivia Nikkanen, out on a date.
—Melanie Goodfellow, Deadline, 26 Nov. 2024
Meanwhile, its slapstick, gross-out animation style reminds viewers that absolutely nothing is sacred, including its own child characters who suffer and even die terribly from episode to episode (#WhoKilledKenny).
—Sezin Keohler, EW.com, 24 Jan. 2025
See all Example Sentences for slapstick 
Noun
The stark beauty of Samuel Beckett’s absurdist classic, part music hall romp, part abstract painting, was awakened in a production starring two gifted comics who didn’t overplay their slapstick hands, Rainn Wilson and Aasif Mandvi.
—Charles McNulty, Los Angeles Times, 9 Dec. 2024
Yet alongside the slapstick and door-slamming and precarious vocal gymnastics, Will’s production also accessed the original story’s subversiveness, as well as its heartache.
—Jackson McHenry, Vulture, 5 Dec. 2024
Mixing drama, slapstick and pathos, Gandolfini stars as a deeply shy, highly allergic Circuit-Shack employee desperate to ask his colleague, played by Olivia Nikkanen, out on a date.
—Melanie Goodfellow, Deadline, 26 Nov. 2024
Meanwhile, its slapstick, gross-out animation style reminds viewers that absolutely nothing is sacred, including its own child characters who suffer and even die terribly from episode to episode (#WhoKilledKenny).
—Sezin Keohler, EW.com, 24 Jan. 2025
See all Example Sentences for slapstick
Recent Examples of Synonyms for slapstick
Noun
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Chappelle has also received five Primetime Emmy Awards – three for his Netflix comedy specials Equanimity (2018) and Sticks & Stones (2020), and two for hosting Saturday Night Live (2017 and 2021).—
Paul Grein,
Billboard,
11 Feb. 2025
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In addition, Reiss executive produced the indie comedy Flock of Dudes with Kumail Nanjiani, Eric André, and Marc Maron.—
Anthony D'Alessandro,
Deadline,
11 Feb. 2025
Adjective
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At least that’s the case at Factory Obscura, a zany immersive experience that’s fun for all ages.—
Tara Massouleh McCay,
Southern Living,
7 Feb. 2025
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The zany delights of Willem Dafoe: Talking Nosferatu, his own vampire turn, and his pure joy of acting The prop was one of many prosthetic pieces that, combined together, contributed to Skarsgård’s almost unrecognizable transformation into the vampire.—
EW.com,
EW.com,
23 Dec. 2024
Noun
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They are also known for their charm, wit and humor, much like this tricky villain.—
Athena Sobhan,
People.com,
7 Feb. 2025
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There will be so much of it, after all, and many of the ads are likely to rely on similar elements, like celebrities and humor.—
Brian Steinberg,
Variety,
7 Feb. 2025
Adjective
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Redheads often fielded comments related to having a hot temper, being clownish, weirdness, Irishness, not capable of being in the sun, being wild (among women), wimpy (among men), and intellectually superior.—
David Faris,
Newsweek,
19 Jan. 2025
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As vice-president, Kamala Harris was generally regarded as unimpressive and slightly clownish, with her banal repetitions and too-frequent outbursts of too-exuberant laughter.—
Avi Nelson,
Boston Herald,
30 Oct. 2024
Noun
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Star-Telegram: Talking about that tone of satire, Patrick Bateman in this movie, almost similar to a character like Tyler Durden in ‘Fight Club,’ has become a character that seems to attract a lot of fans who maybe don’t understand that satire.—
Lawrence Dow,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
13 Feb. 2025
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In Mike White’s hands, The White Lotus remains a beautifully insightful satire with lots to say about money, power and true happiness.—
Dave Nemetz,
TVLine,
13 Feb. 2025
Adjective
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In another amusing shot, Tallulah wears a tank top emblazoned with a photo of her father's face in his younger days.—
Thomas G. Moukawsher,
Newsweek,
6 Feb. 2025
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Among the speakers were several coaches, including Evan Chalmers, who provided a variety of amusing quips and tales about his Laguna Beach High classmate and multiple-sports teammate.—
Richard Dunn,
Orange County Register,
6 Feb. 2025
Noun
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There are no gilded gates here, but there is one heck of a party, complete with serenading busts, ballroom dancers, excitable opera singers, drunken buffoonery and portraits locked in an endless duel.—
Todd Martens,
Los Angeles Times,
17 Jan. 2025
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What’s so special about Britain’s patron wanker of bighearted buffoonery?—
Joe Reid,
Vulture,
8 Jan. 2025
Adjective
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Now in its third season, The Traitors is still as entertaining as ever, but in an unexpected, crash out kind of way.—
Alex Abad-Santos,
Vox,
6 Feb. 2025
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Knowing Winston, that just as easily could have been a hilarious mistake made by one of the more entertaining personalities in football.—
Pat Leonard,
New York Daily News,
6 Feb. 2025
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Cite this Entry
“Slapstick.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/slapstick. Accessed 21 Feb. 2025.
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