1
as in harlequin
a comically dressed performer (as at a circus) who entertains with playful tricks and ridiculous behavior
a clown wearing big floppy shoes and a red wig
Synonyms & Similar Words
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2
as in bastard
a person whose behavior is offensive to others
you should stay away from that clown
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
1
2
as in to cut up
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
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Recent Examples of clown
Victoria Edel, People.com, 18 Mar. 2025
Caro Stowell of Thomasville was dressed up like a clown.
—Sarah D. Wire, USA Today, 5 Apr. 2025
Tim Lammers, Forbes.com, 2 Apr. 2025
His cousin Janay said the father of four was a ladies man who liked to clown around and make people happy.
—Leonard Greene, New York Daily News, 31 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for clown
Noun
Fogelman said that, at the time, his assistant Jake suggested cheering her up by sending her a clown.
—Victoria Edel, People.com, 18 Mar. 2025
Caro Stowell of Thomasville was dressed up like a clown.
—Sarah D. Wire, USA Today, 5 Apr. 2025
Verb
Rachel Brosnahan, Nicholas Hoult and David Corenswet clowned around onstage during the Superman presentation at CinemaCon.
—Tim Lammers, Forbes.com, 2 Apr. 2025
His cousin Janay said the father of four was a ladies man who liked to clown around and make people happy.
—Leonard Greene, New York Daily News, 31 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for clown
Recent Examples of Synonyms for clown
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
Verb
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The bulletin issued by Ukraine's Computer Emergency Response Team (CERT-UA) on March 18 indicates that attacks started this month, with Signal messages containing links to archived messages, masquerading as meeting reports.—
Joanne Stocker,
CBS News,
25 Mar. 2025
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The second letter contained more personal information which would enable the recipient to masquerade as a friend of Angela’s, Gatchis said.—
Andi Babineau and Ray Sanchez,
CNN,
14 Feb. 2025
Verb
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Consider cutting up their food or serving easy-to-eat foods like smoothies.—
Smita Patel,
Verywell Health,
15 Apr. 2025
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Skrillex has never restricted his distension of sonic materials to merely supersizing his bass lines, and among other things, the voices on this album are routinely phased and retuned and cut up.—
Michaelangelo Matos,
Rolling Stone,
1 Apr. 2025
Noun
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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
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Washington has become the court of Nero: an incendiary emperor, submissive courtiers, and a buffoon on ketamine tasked with purging the civil service.—
Claude Malhuret,
The Atlantic,
8 Mar. 2025
Noun
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But this Ron Howard was an alternate universe version of Ron Howard, who instead of being notoriously nice, is sort of a jerk.—
Esther Zuckerman,
Los Angeles Times,
2 Apr. 2025
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Someone actually just said to me that all the men in the book are jerks.—
Gal Beckerman,
The Atlantic,
7 Mar. 2025
Verb
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By the close of their show, after having mimed chasing after the performance’s nonexistent plot, Tatarsky sat at the head of a table, facing the audience, eating Life cereal with milk, with their hands, out of an empty skull, and at one point chewed and swallowed a cigarette.—
Priscilla Posada,
Los Angeles Times,
13 Mar. 2025
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From the very beginnings of filmmaking, with Charlie Chaplin finding fame during the silent era through the use of miming, cinema has relied on more than just sound.—
Harrison Richlin,
IndieWire,
17 Mar. 2025
Verb
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Quit horsing around — the Clydesdales are back!—
Breanne L. Heldman,
People.com,
10 Feb. 2025
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In the video, Payne is shown horsing around with a large outdoor crowd and his bandmates, encouraging the fans to quiet their screaming and then raise the volume all the way back up.—
Clare Mulroy,
USA TODAY,
3 Feb. 2025
Noun
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Trump sued Maher in 2013 for $5 million after the comedian made a crass joke about his mother and an orangutan.—
Steff Danielle Thomas,
The Hill,
19 Apr. 2025
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Netflix is once again hosting a showcase of up-and-coming comedians for its annual Netflix Is a Joke Festival.—
Ethan Shanfeld,
Variety,
18 Apr. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Clown.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/clown. Accessed 22 Apr. 2025.
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