fun 1 of 3

1
2
as in play
an attitude or manner not to be taken seriously when I said that playing the piano like that could get you arrested, I only said it in fun

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

3
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fun

2 of 3

adjective

fun

3 of 3

verb

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fun people
friendly people
cool people
happy people
festive people
fun appetizers
yummy appetizers
delicious appetizers
tasty appetizers
fancy appetizers
creative appetizers
fun neighborhoods
quirky neighborhoods
lively neighborhoods
trendy neighborhoods
charming neighborhoods
cool neighborhoods

Synonym Chooser

How does the noun fun differ from other similar words?

Some common synonyms of fun are game, jest, play, and sport. While all these words mean "action or speech that provides amusement or arouses laughter," fun usually implies laughter or gaiety but may imply merely a lack of serious or ulterior purpose.

played cards just for fun

How do game and sport relate to one another, in the sense of fun?

Game is close to sport, and often stresses mischievous or malicious fun.

made game of their poor relations

When can jest be used instead of fun?

The words jest and fun can be used in similar contexts, but jest implies lack of earnestness and may suggest a hoaxing or teasing.

hurt by remarks said only in jest

When might play be a better fit than fun?

In some situations, the words play and fun are roughly equivalent. However, play stresses the opposition to earnest without implying any malice or mischief.

pretended to strangle his brother in play

In what contexts can sport take the place of fun?

The synonyms sport and fun are sometimes interchangeable, but sport applies especially to the arousing of laughter against someone.

teasing begun in sport led to anger

Example Sentences

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.
Recent Examples of fun
Noun
On the rare occasions when politics did intrude, the context was fittingly fun-loving. Mark Leibovich, The Atlantic, 31 Mar. 2025 Amid all the fun, you're bound to get hungry. Madalyn Mendoza, Axios, 31 Mar. 2025
Adjective
Talking about winning games by 70 points is fun in early April. Sean Hammond, Chicago Tribune, 8 Apr. 2025 Therefore, Betfair’s special of 10 or more saves made by both goalkeepers combined, priced at 16/1, is an incredibly fun option. Sam Tighe, New York Times, 8 Apr. 2025 See All Example Sentences for fun
Recent Examples of Synonyms for fun
Noun
  • Formerly an entertainment venue and public garden in the late 1800s, Zhang Yuan later became a residential area until the government took over in 2018.
    Tianwei Zhang, Footwear News, 10 Apr. 2025
  • The production house’s scripted entertainment credits include Varsity Blues, Coach Carter, One Tree Hill and Smallville.
    Luke Cyphers, Sportico.com, 10 Apr. 2025
Noun
  • As part of its spring 2025 runway presentation, Fendi paired two bags in different hues and silhouettes for some intentional contrast play — both gripped in one hand by the models.
    Stacia Datskovska, Footwear News, 10 Apr. 2025
  • Written, performed and co-directed by Crouch, the play tells the story of a father who loses his daughter in a car accident.
    Naman Ramachandran, Variety, 10 Apr. 2025
Noun
  • There's a mix of on-the-beach relaxation (pet-friendly!) and off-the-beach amusements, such as go-kart tracks, a handful of mini-golf courses, a number of ice cream shops, and good restaurants.
    Kaitlyn Yarborough, Southern Living, 17 Apr. 2025
  • Try relaxation techniques, such as yoga or meditation.
    Mary Choy, Verywell Health, 16 Apr. 2025
Noun
  • The reveal of the dire wolves and accompanying news on red wolf advances lead to plenty of commotion and news coverage.
    Mike Snider, USA Today, 8 Apr. 2025
  • In the backdrop, a commotion of voices from distraught aid workers and soldiers shouting commands in Hebrew can be heard.
    Farnaz Fassihi, New York Times, 5 Apr. 2025
Adjective
  • Six books offer readers armchair travel, amusing characters, and a dash of history.
    Yvonne Zipp, Christian Science Monitor, 1 Apr. 2025
  • Thankfully, in the case of Mark, the reality proved to be something much more amusing.
    Ron Estes, MSNBC Newsweek, 31 Mar. 2025
Verb
  • The Whalen video used audio of Hemphill joking about the possibility of activists getting arrested for removing the Pride flag.
    Sally Krutzig, Idaho Statesman, 20 Apr. 2025
  • Several users joked about the situation, with one user posting a photo of the Spotify logo on top of a grave.
    Miranda Nazzaro, The Hill, 16 Apr. 2025
Noun
  • Entrées feature delights such as buttermilk pancakes with banana and mixed berries, eggs benedict with crispy potatoes, and grilled lamb chops with a seven spice blend.
    Melissa Kravitz Hoeffner, Forbes.com, 14 Apr. 2025
  • Growing up, in San Diego, Mary Faith Casey could easily access delight.
    Sarah Stillman, New Yorker, 14 Apr. 2025
Noun
  • Clemence played in 24 games during KU’s NCAA title season of 2021-22.
    Gary Bedore, Kansas City Star, 14 Apr. 2025
  • Power and pump up your tech game with today's Amazon tech deals!
    Shubham Yewale, PC Magazine, 14 Apr. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Fun.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/fun. Accessed 25 Apr. 2025.

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