joke
Punchline delivery vehicle
A joke is something said or done to provoke laughter—a funny story, a witty remark, a prank.
Have you heard the one about the traveling salesman?
A joke can also be something not to be taken seriously: The exam was a joke.
To joke is to say things in jest rather than earnest: I was only joking.
A practical joke is a prank played on someone.
Something beyond a joke has become serious or annoying.
Clever, inventive humor
- funninessQuality of being amusing
- hilarityExtreme amusement, often shared
- levityLack of seriousness
- drolleryWhimsical, understated humor
whimsy · amusement · lightheartedness · jocularity · mirth · silliness · absurdity · gag
Deliberate deception for effect
- gagMouth restraint or jest
- trickDeliberate deception
- shenaniganA deceitful trick
- tomfooleryFoolish or silly behavior
hijinks · antic · caper · lark · put-on · gotcha · fool · leg-pull
Satirical imitation
- ironyMeaning opposite to words
- sarcasmIrony used to mock
- lampoonHarsh public mockery
- caricatureExaggerated comic depiction
mockery · spoof · burlesque · wit · skewering · send-up · pastiche · travesty
Pointed witty remark
- one-linerBrief standalone joke
- kickerOne who boots balls
- punchlineHumor's final delivery
- payoffCulminating benefit received
tagline · twist · callback · setup · timing · delivery · anticlimax · reveal
Affectionate verbal teasing
Solo comedic performance
- slapstickExaggerated physical humor
- sketchHasty informal drawing
- improvUnscripted comedic performance
- sitcomEpisodic TV comedy series
parody · farce · roast · bit · routine · set · open-mic · comedian
wit
Clever, inventive humor
drollery · whimsy · amusement · lightheartedness · jocularity · mirth · silliness · absurdity · gag · laugh
hoax
Deliberate deception for effect
- gagMouth restraint or jest
- trickDeliberate deception
- shenaniganA deceitful trick
tomfoolery · hijinks · antic · caper · lark · put-on · gotcha · fool · leg-pull · ruse
parody
Satirical imitation
caricature · mockery · spoof · burlesque · wit · skewering · send-up · pastiche · travesty · tongue-in-cheek
zinger
Pointed witty remark
payoff · tagline · twist · callback · setup · timing · delivery · anticlimax · reveal · stinger
ribbing
Affectionate verbal teasing
jab · dig · needle · taunt · mock · rib · tease · banter · burn · diss
stand-up
Solo comedic performance
sitcom · parody · farce · roast · bit · routine · set · open-mic · comedian · comic
anecdote
Brief account of incident
tale · bit · routine · callback · knock-knock · one-liner · tall-tale
chuckle
Low, suppressed laugh
cackle · chortle · howl · roar · crack-up · snort · titter · hoot · rolling · knee-slapper
Formal assertion of truth
matter of life and death · no laughing matter · warning · dead serious · threat
- bad jokeFailed attempt at humor
- inside jokeHumor requiring shared history
- dirty jokeCrude comedic remark
- joking aroundPlayful, unserious behavior
- joke shopRetailer of humorous novelties
- practical jokeTrick meant to amuse
joking, joker, jokes, joked, jokester, jokey, jokingly, jokers, jokiness