jokes
Punch line setups
Jokes are things said or done to provoke laughter—a funny story, a prank, a witty remark.
A joke can also be something absurdly inadequate: The security system was a joke.
To joke is to say something humorous or not meant seriously: I was only joking.
Someone who can't take a joke reacts poorly to teasing.
A practical joke is a prank.
No joke emphasizes that something is serious or genuinely impressive: She ran a marathon—no joke.
Verbal wit techniques
- punWordplay using double meanings
- quipBrief, clever remark
- witticismClever, amusing remark
- one-linerBrief standalone joke
cleverness · double-entendre · banter · repartee · bon-mot · wisecrack · retort · comeback
Humor's final delivery
- setupHow something is arranged
- deliveryConveyance of goods
- timingArt of choosing moments
- payoffCulminating benefit received
zinger · kicker · twist · callback · tag · topper · anticlimax · misdirection
Solo comedic performance
- sitcomEpisodic TV comedy series
- sketchHasty informal drawing
- improvUnscripted comedic performance
- slapstickExaggerated physical humor
parody · roast · comedian · comic · shtick · routine · set · timing
Deliberate deception for effect
- gagMouth restraint or jest
- stuntDangerous feat for spectacle
- prankPlayful trick on someone
- trickDeliberate deception
shenanigan · tomfoolery · antics · practical · fool · gotcha · setup · mark
Door-announcing sound repeated
wordplay
Verbal wit techniques
one-liner · cleverness · double-entendre · banter · repartee · bon-mot · wisecrack · retort · comeback · riposte
punchline
Humor's final delivery
payoff · zinger · kicker · twist · callback · tag · topper · anticlimax · misdirection · subversion
stand-up
Solo comedic performance
slapstick · parody · roast · comedian · comic · shtick · routine · set · timing · delivery
hoax
Deliberate deception for effect
trick · shenanigan · tomfoolery · antics · practical · fool · gotcha · setup · mark · prankster
knock-knock
Door-announcing sound repeated
blonde · lightbulb · dirty · clean · corny · groan-worthy · callback
guffaw
Boisterous burst of mirth
cackle · chortle · titter · roar · snort · howl · crack-up · hysterics · tears · side-splitting
parody
Satirical imitation
lampoon · spoof · caricature · send-up · skewering · political · topical · edgy · subversive · commentary
- comedycomedy, humor, puns, sarcasm, stand-up
- funamusement, entertainment, excitement, joy, merriment
- humorcomedy, comic, funny, hilarious, amusing
- topicsnature, health, sports, science, politics
- kid comedypotty humor, silly faces, funny faces, tickling, peek-a-boo
- chitchatsmall talk, banter, chitchat, chatter, chat
jokeseulogies
Speeches honoring the dead
lectures · sermons · admonitions · reprimands · gravitas
jokestragedies
Dramas with fatal endings
laments · elegies · dirges · sob stories · tearjerkers
jokesfacts
Verifiable pieces of truth
truths · straight talk · gospel truth · reality · plain truth
- 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
joke, joking, joker, joked, jokester, jokey, jokers, jokesters