JOCULAR Synonyms: 209 Similar and Opposite Words

Q: How is the word 'jocular' distinct from other similar adjectives?

Some common synonyms of jocular are facetious , humorous , jocose , and witty . While all these words mean "provoking or intended to provoke laughter," jocular implies a usually habitual fondness for jesting and joking. // a jocular fellow

Q: When can 'facetious' be used instead of 'jocular'?

Although the words facetious and jocular have much in common, facetious stresses a desire to produce laughter and may be derogatory in implying dubious or ill-timed attempts at wit or humor. // facetious comments

Q: When might 'humorous' be a better fit than 'jocular'?

While the synonyms humorous and jocular are close in meaning, humorous applies broadly to anything that evokes usually genial laughter and may contrast with witty in suggesting whimsicality or eccentricity. // humorous anecdotes

Q: How are the words 'jocose' and 'facetious' related as synonyms of 'jocular'?

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

Q: Where would 'witty' be a reasonable alternative to 'jocular'?

While in some cases nearly identical to jocular , witty suggests cleverness and quickness of mind. // a witty remark

jocular

adjective

ˈjä-kyə-lər

Definition of jocular

as in humorous

given to or marked by mature intelligent humor made the jocular observation that the best way to make a small fortune in the wine business is to start off with a large fortune

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in merry

indicative of or marked by high spirits or good humor the children at the library were charmed by the jocular storyteller

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Synonym Chooser

How is the word jocular distinct from other similar adjectives?

Some common synonyms of jocular are facetious, humorous, jocose, and witty. While all these words mean "provoking or intended to provoke laughter," jocular implies a usually habitual fondness for jesting and joking.

a jocular fellow

When can facetious be used instead of jocular?

Although the words facetious and jocular have much in common, 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 might humorous be a better fit than jocular?

While the synonyms humorous and jocular are close in meaning, 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 as synonyms of jocular?

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

jocose proposals

Where would witty be a reasonable alternative to jocular?

While in some cases nearly identical to jocular, 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 jocular After Wembanyama’s next attempt, all six coaches played a jocular game of hot potato amongst themselves before delivering the ball back to him at the foul line. — Jeff McDonald, San Antonio Express-News, 21 Mar. 2026 These documents further illuminated the extent of the friendship between Bannon and Epstein, whose private exchanges are jocular, even affectionate at times. — Aidan McLaughlin, Vanity Fair, 13 Feb. 2026 Entire families, with kids and dogs, took their holiday portraits — not with a jocular Santa, but with a snarling Krampus, standing in front of an Alpine forest backdrop. — Deena Prichep, NPR, 8 Dec. 2025 Even was talkative and jocular, telling stories about blowout parties in Marrakech. — Joel Khalili, Wired News, 17 Nov. 2025 See All Example Sentences for jocular

Recent Examples of Synonyms for jocular

Adjective

Silvestri used a large orchestra to create a score that played the heist completely straight, despite its humorous premise.

— Jazz Tangcay, Variety, 3 Oct. 2026
Pledging love and respecting someone or a relationship can make people feel so uncomfortable that leaning into these tropes of life can feel humorous, and that’s where the laughs from a Hallmark film come from.

— Anthony Solorzano, Los Angeles Times, 25 Sep. 2026

Definition of humorous

Adjective

The friendly staff, who wear black uniforms with lettering that identifies their duties add to the hotel’s merry atmosphere.

— Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 30 Sep. 2026
This is a place where adults make the pilgrimage to the legendary Pinto Ron and Pizza Pete tailgate spot in the Hammer Lot where Pinto Ron's team of merry pranksters pour shots of liquor into a bowling ball finger hole.

— Joe Kinsey OutKick, FOXNews.com, 18 Sep. 2026

Definition of merry

Adjective

Beneath his commentary on trending topics and crowd interactions are anecdotes inspired by Brookzz’s family and his personal life, giving the debut a hint of intimacy and a glimpse into the man behind the charming grin and witty quips.

— Preezy Brown, VIBE.com, 6 Oct. 2026
Yet, the show is neither witty enough to be funny nor serious enough to become engrossing.

— Aramide Tinubu, Variety, 2 Oct. 2026

Definition of witty

Adjective

The track opens with a sprinkle of piano before morphing into a jolly celebration that’s really going to hit this holiday season.

— Angie Martoccio, Rolling Stone, 25 Sep. 2026
Both his suggestion and the jolly appreciation seem out of tune with the situation ‘far from home’, which may be a military manoeuvre involving mock battles and bayonet practice, or a preparation for actual combat.

— Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 11 Aug. 2026

Definition of jolly

Adjective

Luckily, Amazon’s fitness section is loaded with clever devices to make home workouts fun, engaging, and a little sweaty.

— Sian Babish, PEOPLE, 30 Sep. 2026
There are some genuinely clever ideas on display, including space-saving furniture, transforming interiors, and ways of opening the home up to the outdoors.

— New Atlas, New Atlas, 30 Sep. 2026

Definition of clever

Adjective

But the film hardly even merits such empty pastiche, and there’s little else to distinguish it from much cheap-and-cheerful streaming fodder in this genre space.

— Guy Lodge, Variety, 30 Sep. 2026
In Phoenix, there was an energetic and cheerful young man by the name of Craig Wismer.

— Lauren Weiner, Baltimore Sun, 28 Sep. 2026

Definition of cheerful

Adjective

Journalists and attendees swarmed the room at the town’s Kursaal Theater, where a jovial Pitt made his first San Sebastián appearance since the 2009 presentation of Inglourious Basterds alongside filmmaker Quentin Tarantino.

— Lily Ford, HollywoodReporter, 23 Sep. 2026
With bow and arrow in hand, Anghba finds his hunt for a wild boar across a riverbank interrupted by a raft floating downstream, as former tribespeople surround a jovial American preacher (Douglas Henshall), much to the chieftain’s chagrin.

— Siddhant Adlakha, Variety, 20 Sep. 2026

Definition of jovial

Browse Nearby Words

jocosity

jocular

jocularity

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“Jocular.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/jocular. Accessed 9 Oct. 2026.

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