clowning
Acting the fool
Clowning is acting in a silly, playful, or attention-seeking way.
Children clown around in class; adults clown at parties.
The word carries a mild note of disapproval—clowning implies the behavior is excessive or inappropriate to the situation: Stop clowning and pay attention.
It can also refer to the art of performing as a clown.
Unwise conduct
- tomfooleryFoolish or silly behavior
- shenanigansMischievous or deceitful behavior
- horseplayBoisterous rough behavior
- anticsAbsurd, attention-seeking behavior
silliness · goofing · larking · high jinks · monkeyshines · skylarking · mischief · pranks
Humorous remarks or stories
- gagsJokes or silencing devices
- slapstickExaggerated physical humor
- physical comedyHumor from bodily mishaps
- timingArt of choosing moments
pratfall · mugging · shtick · bit · routine · punchline · comedian · funny
Main circus tent
- red noseCrimson facial protrusion
- greasepaintWaxy theatrical cosmetic
- floppy shoesLoose, oversized comedic footwear
- squirting flowerTrick lapel accessory
seltzer bottle · pie throwing · balloon animals · unicycle · stilts · costume · wig · makeup
Deed or performance
- routineRegular sequence of actions
- characterNature, symbol, or role
- personaAssumed public identity
- stageRaised performance platform
show · entertainment · audience · troupe · rehearsal · timing · improv · sketch
Contemptuous mocking treatment
- derisionContemptuous mockery
- teasingPlayful, mild ridicule
- tauntingInsulting to provoke
- mockingScornfully imitating or ridiculing
making fun · sneering · scoffing · belittling · lampooning · sending up · taking off · imitating
foolishness
Unwise conduct
- tomfooleryFoolish or silly behavior
- shenanigansMischievous or deceitful behavior
- horseplayBoisterous rough behavior
antics · silliness · goofing · larking · high jinks · monkeyshines · skylarking · mischief · pranks · mugging
jokes
Humorous remarks or stories
- gagsJokes or silencing devices
- slapstickExaggerated physical humor
- physical comedyHumor from bodily mishaps
timing · pratfall · mugging · shtick · bit · routine · punchline · comedian · funny · laughter
big top
Main circus tent
- red noseCrimson facial protrusion
- greasepaintWaxy theatrical cosmetic
- floppy shoesLoose, oversized comedic footwear
squirting flower · seltzer bottle · pie throwing · balloon animals · unicycle · stilts · costume · wig · makeup · Ringling
act
Deed or performance
stage · show · entertainment · audience · troupe · rehearsal · timing · improv · sketch · pantomime
ridicule
Contemptuous mocking treatment
making fun · mocking · sneering · scoffing · belittling · lampooning · sending up · taking off · imitating · mimicking
- folk entertainmentfolk dancing, folk theater, busking, street performance, street theater
- performance artsmime, mimicry, impressions, celebrity impression, drag performance
- comedy bitsbit, skit, sketch, gag, shtick
- comedycomedy, jokes, humor, puns, sarcasm
- funamusement, entertainment, excitement, joy, merriment
- humorjoke, jokes, joking, comedy, comic
clowningseriousness
Earnest, weighty demeanor
earnestness · gravity · sobriety · solemnity · gravitas
- clowning aroundPlayful, silly behavior
- clowning onPlayfully mocking someone
- clowning aboutActing silly deliberately