JESTS Synonyms: 140 Similar and Opposite Words

jests 1 of 2

noun

plural of jest

as in jokes

something said or done to cause laughter laughed politely at his feeble jest about his pet mosquito

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as in pranks

a playful or mischievous act intended as a joke putting a mouse in her desk drawer was intended to be a harmless jest

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as in fools

a person or thing that is made fun of his outlandish costumes made him the jest of the town

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

jests

2 of 2

verb

present tense third-person singular of jest

as in quips

to make jokes when I asked my sister for a loan, she laughingly replied, "Surely you jest!"

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Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Recent Examples of jests

Noun

Be sure that your jests don’t become insults! — Usa Today, USA Today, 9 Nov. 2025

Recent Examples of Synonyms for jests

Noun

There was nothing particularly novel about the show’s premise, but the scripts were refreshingly dense with jokes, prioritizing laughs over contrived drama or seasonlong relationship arcs.

— Ben Rosenstock, Vulture, 28 Aug. 2026
The order, which directs federal officials to formalize the name change within 30 days, quickly sparked backlash, jokes and parody proposals.

— Gabe Hauari, USA Today, 28 Aug. 2026

Definition of jokes

Noun

And on social media, videos show a range of other unwanted recordings, from relatively inoffensive pranks to more harmful videos featuring bullying or harassment.

— Ashley Belanger, ArsTechnica, 21 Aug. 2026
Alves, who is known online for her day-in-the-life content as well as making videos documenting humorous pranks, had nearly 60,000 followers on Instagram.

— Tabitha Parent, PEOPLE, 17 Aug. 2026

Definition of pranks

Noun

There was nothing particularly novel about the show’s premise, but the scripts were refreshingly dense with jokes, prioritizing laughs over contrived drama or seasonlong relationship arcs.

— Ben Rosenstock, Vulture, 28 Aug. 2026
The series remains perpetually glum, refusing to project any light behind a conceit begging for a few laughs.

— Ben Travers, IndieWire, 28 Aug. 2026

Definition of laughs

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jesting

jests

jet

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Style

“Jests.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/jests. Accessed 1 Sep. 2026.

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Synonyms of jests

noun

verb

Example Sentences

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