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Synonym Chooser

How is the word facetious distinct from other similar adjectives?

Some common synonyms of facetious are humorous, jocose, jocular, and witty. While all these words mean "provoking or intended to provoke laughter," facetious stresses a desire to produce laughter and may be derogatory in implying dubious or ill-timed attempts at wit or humor.

facetious comments

When is humorous a more appropriate choice than facetious?

The words humorous and facetious can be used in similar contexts, but humorous applies broadly to anything that evokes usually genial laughter and may contrast with witty in suggesting whimsicality or eccentricity.

humorous anecdotes

How are the words jocose and facetious related?

Jocose is somewhat less derogatory than facetious in suggesting habitual waggishness or playfulness.

jocose proposals

When can jocular be used instead of facetious?

The synonyms jocular and facetious are sometimes interchangeable, but jocular implies a usually habitual fondness for jesting and joking.

a jocular fellow

When could witty be used to replace facetious?

While the synonyms witty and facetious are close in meaning, witty suggests cleverness and quickness of mind.

a witty remark

Example Sentences

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 facetious The veteran investor isn’t being entirely facetious. Will Daniel, Fortune, 29 May 2024 Veteran liberal dweebs fail to rethink their facetious principles in these scary, complicated times. Armond White, National Review, 17 May 2024 Based on the television series that retooled The Six Million Dollar Man Lee Majors as a show-business stunt coordinator who also solved crimes, this facetious film adaptation stars Ryan Gosling, not quite a replacement for towering tough-guy Majors. Armond White, National Review, 3 May 2024 The majority of the profile images appeared to be stock photos, and the job titles were all facetious. Caroline Haskins, WIRED, 25 Mar. 2024 See All Example Sentences for facetious
Recent Examples of Synonyms for facetious
Adjective
  • The show is bolstered by a panel of five hosts — one of them a former contestant, introduced as an emcee in season three — offering witty commentary and analysis.
    Lily Ford, The Hollywood Reporter, 28 Feb. 2025
  • Buck is a loquacious, glad-handing oaf who has a boring way with a witty story, and is marked for death.
    Fred Schruers, IndieWire, 27 Feb. 2025
Adjective
  • In December 2024, the brand opened a cute hut that could have been plucked out of a Disney cartoon on the beach of the St. Regis Kanai Resort in Riviera Maya.
    Hikmat Mohammed, WWD, 9 Mar. 2025
  • Okay, but how cute is Meghan’s dog, Guy? Love him!!!!
    Fran Hoepfner, Vulture, 7 Mar. 2025
Adjective
  • The big picture: Parody accounts from Mount Rainier and Mount Hood are trading playful taunts and humorous one-upmanship, comparing body counts and jesting about whether size matters.
    Christine Clarridge, Axios, 28 Feb. 2025
  • Donkey provided comic relief, pathos and friendship to Shrek, with the film praised for its humorous twist on fairy-tale tropes.
    Aaron Couch, The Hollywood Reporter, 27 Feb. 2025
Adjective
  • The art of bluffing in itself, which is what the movie is all about, isn’t something to be flippant about.
    Lily Ford, The Hollywood Reporter, 24 Feb. 2025
  • Claiming ignorance or hyper-fixating on a flippant detail from the past gets us nowhere.
    Claire Franken, TVLine, 23 Feb. 2025
Adjective
  • Their techniques are clever, and reveal interesting things about how large language models work.
    Alex Reisner, The Atlantic, 5 Mar. 2025
  • The devilishly clever dad's wife, Emma Williams (@emmawill2014), posted a clip on TikTok showing five out of their six kids gathered around the table and engrossed in painting Warhammer 40k miniatures with their father.
    Thomas G. Moukawsher, Newsweek, 4 Mar. 2025
Adjective
  • What disrupts the playful opening to what will become a quietly devastating look at PTSD, however, is a sudden cut to a girl crouching next to the body.
    David Fear, Rolling Stone, 7 Mar. 2025
  • With playful prints, fun embroideries, and the softest material, Stripe & Stare has something for everyone—even every astrological sign.
    Conçetta Ciarlo, Vogue, 7 Mar. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Facetious.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/facetious. Accessed 14 Mar. 2025.

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