buffoon
Absurd, silly person
A buffoon is a person who amuses others through crude, clownish behavior—pratfalls, exaggerated gestures, loud foolishness.
The word carries contempt: calling someone a buffoon suggests they're undignified or ridiculous, whether intentionally or not.
He made a buffoon of himself at the party.
The president surrounded himself with buffoons.
Royal household comedian
- harlequinMasked comic servant character
- clownComedic performer in makeup
- entertainerOne who amuses others
- farceurCreator of absurd comedies
zany · merrymaker · fool · motley · court jester · prankster · tumbler · acrobat
Stupid person
- dunceSlow-witted person
- simpletonUnintelligent person
- nincompoopFoolish or silly person
- blockheadStupid, foolish person
dimwit · ignoramus · nitwit · numskull · oaf · doofus · halfwit · knucklehead
Exaggerated physical humor
- farceAbsurd, laughable situation
- parodySatirical imitation
- satireMockery exposing vice
- caricatureExaggerated comic depiction
burlesque · lampoon · sketch · gag · punchline · shtick · pratfall · sight gag
Italian masked theatrical tradition
- vaudevilleTheatrical variety entertainment
- pantomimeDrama through gesture alone
- cabaretLive entertainment venue
- revueMusical variety entertainment
masquerade · troupe · motley · cap and bells · bauble · scepter · foolscap
jester
Royal household comedian
- harlequinMasked comic servant character
- clownComedic performer in makeup
- entertainerOne who amuses others
farceur · zany · merrymaker · fool · motley · court jester · prankster · tumbler · acrobat · mime
dolt
Stupid person
- dunceSlow-witted person
- simpletonUnintelligent person
- nincompoopFoolish or silly person
blockhead · dimwit · ignoramus · nitwit · numskull · oaf · doofus · halfwit · knucklehead · clod
slapstick
Exaggerated physical humor
caricature · burlesque · lampoon · sketch · gag · punchline · shtick · pratfall · sight gag · physical comedy
commedia
Italian masked theatrical tradition
- vaudevilleTheatrical variety entertainment
- pantomimeDrama through gesture alone
- cabaretLive entertainment venue
revue · masquerade · troupe · motley · cap and bells · bauble · scepter · foolscap
idiot
Foolish, senseless person
turkey · loser · twit · clodhopper · galoot · duffer · lummox · chump · schmuck · bozo
ridicule
Contemptuous mocking treatment
- derisionContemptuous mockery
- laughingstockOne publicly mocked
- figure of funTarget of general mockery
contempt · disdain · scorn · jeer · taunt · sneer · gibe · raillery · scoff
buffoondignitary
Person of high rank
statesman · sage · elder statesman · aristocrat · noble
buffoonsage
Wisdom keeper or seasoning
genius · wise man · savant · intellectual · scholar
buffoonkilljoy
One who dampens merriment
sourpuss · wet blanket · stick in the mud · sobersides · stuffed shirt