clown
Big-shoed entertainer
A clown is a comic performer, traditionally in colorful costume and exaggerated makeup, who entertains through slapstick, jokes, and physical comedy—originally in circuses, now at children's parties and other venues.
Clown extends to anyone who acts foolishly or seeks attention through buffoonery: Stop clowning around.
To clown on someone is to mock or ridicule them.
In slang, calling someone a clown dismisses them as incompetent or unserious: That guy's a complete clown.
Waxy theatrical cosmetic
- whitefaceTheatrical pale makeup
- red noseCrimson facial protrusion
- face paintCosmetics applied to skin
- painted smileInsincere displayed happiness
exaggerated features · sad face · happy face · theatrical · transformation · character · teardrops · stars
Main circus tent
- ringmasterCircus performance director
- red noseCrimson facial protrusion
- floppy shoesLoose, oversized comedic footwear
- seltzer bottleCarbonated water dispenser
pratfall · slapstick · balloon animals · face paint · tiny car · honking horn · rubber chicken · squirting flower
Royal household entertainer
- foolUnwise, gullible person
- harlequinMasked comic servant character
- motleyVaried, incongruous mixture
- tricksterCunning deceiver in myth
medieval · commedia · Pierrot · bauble · coxcomb · pantaloon · foolscap · royal court
Exaggerated physical humor
- pratfallComedic fall on buttocks
- gagMouth restraint or jest
- punchlineHumor's final delivery
- physical comedyHumor from bodily mishaps
pie throw · antic · buffoonery · mugging · sight gag · tomfoolery · hijinks · horseplay
Unwise, gullible person
- buffoonLudicrous, clumsy fool
- idiotFoolish, senseless person
- bozoSlang for nitwit
- jokerCutup or wild card
goof · oaf · dunce · simpleton · dimwit · blockhead · nincompoop · jackass
Intense dread of jesters
- creepyDisturbingly strange
- sinisterThreateningly suggestive of harm
- horrorExtreme fear or disgust
- nightmareFrightening dream causing wakefulness
scary · unsettling · eerie · menacing · painted smile · lurking · horror movie · twisted
greasepaint
Waxy theatrical cosmetic
- whitefaceTheatrical pale makeup
- red noseCrimson facial protrusion
- face paintCosmetics applied to skin
painted smile · exaggerated features · sad face · happy face · theatrical · transformation · character · teardrops · stars · diamonds
big top
Main circus tent
- ringmasterCircus performance director
- red noseCrimson facial protrusion
- floppy shoesLoose, oversized comedic footwear
seltzer bottle · pratfall · slapstick · balloon animals · face paint · tiny car · honking horn · rubber chicken · squirting flower · audience
court jester
Royal household entertainer
trickster · medieval · commedia · Pierrot · bauble · coxcomb · pantaloon · foolscap · royal court · tumbler
slapstick
Exaggerated physical humor
physical comedy · pie throw · antic · buffoonery · mugging · sight gag · tomfoolery · hijinks · horseplay · farce
fool
Unwise, gullible person
joker · goof · oaf · dunce · simpleton · dimwit · blockhead · nincompoop · jackass · knucklehead
coulrophobia
Intense dread of jesters
nightmare · scary · unsettling · eerie · menacing · painted smile · lurking · horror movie · twisted · macabre
- entertainerssingers, actor, dancers, actress, musicians
- Halloweenjack-o-lantern, trick or treating, haunted mansion, pumpkin, trick-or-treat
- humorjoke, jokes, joking, comedy, comic
- costumeswitch, costume, vampire, pirate, ghost costume
- circuscircus, big top, ringmaster, acrobat, acrobats
- carnivalparade, costume, float, ferris wheel, roller coaster
clownstoic
Uncomplaining endurer of hardship
straight man · stuffed shirt · sobersides · killjoy · wet blanket
clowngenius
Person of rare brilliance
expert · virtuoso · mastermind · master · brainiac
clownmime
Wordless expressive performer
tragedian · dramatic actor · method actor · Shakespearean actor
- clown carsComically overstuffed circus automobiles
- class clownStudent who disrupts with humor
- rodeo clownArena performer distracting bulls
- clowning aroundPlayful, silly behavior
- clowns aroundActs foolishly for laughs
- clown noseComic facial prosthetic
clowning, clowns, clownish, clownfish, clowned, clown car, clown fish, clownery, clownishness