as in clown
a comically dressed performer (as at a circus) who entertains with playful tricks and ridiculous behavior
in the comic opera, the buffo shared his entrance aria with a grimacing mime
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of buffo
Instead of the buffo landlord Benoit coming for the rent, the four Bohemians impersonate him themselves in a skit that was a little beyond the L.A. cast’s comic skills.
—
Los Angeles Times, 15 Sep. 2019
Alessandro Corbelli brought seasoned basso-buffo authority to the manipulative Alfonso.
—John Von Rhein, chicagotribune.com, 18 Feb. 2018
Los Angeles Times, 15 Sep. 2019
Alessandro Corbelli brought seasoned basso-buffo authority to the manipulative Alfonso.
—John Von Rhein, chicagotribune.com, 18 Feb. 2018
Recent Examples of Synonyms for buffo
Noun
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Deep cherry red, black, and white come together to create a whimsical world of dice, cards, sad clowns, and a ticking pocketwatch.—
Samantha Brash,
InStyle,
8 Feb. 2026
-
These clowns don't even have the courage of their pathetic White supremacist convictions.—
Bill Goodykoontz,
AZCentral.com,
6 Feb. 2026
Noun
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Rather than the usual crisscross pattern, Holmes’ sweater features solid block diamonds in bold colors for a harlequin look that is honestly a breath of fresh air.—
Elizabeth Logan,
Glamour,
27 Jan. 2026
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In these respects, apart from the harlequin excesses of his Stalinism, Cowley is terrifically sound.—
Vince Passaro,
Harpers Magazine,
30 Dec. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Buffo.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/buffo. Accessed 15 Feb. 2026.
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