1
as in harlequins
a comically dressed performer (as at a circus) who entertains with playful tricks and ridiculous behavior
a clown wearing big floppy shoes and a red wig
Synonyms & Similar Words
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2
as in bastards
a person whose behavior is offensive to others
you should stay away from that clown
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
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Recent Examples of clowns
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
The results will show young women who look an awful lot like circus clowns, with faces hidden under layers of masks, gels, serums, and even face tape.
—Jana Pollack, Parents, 31 Jan. 2026
What awaits you is an emotional journey through family, death, grief, memory, hope, and tears that also features clowns – yes, clowns!
—Georg Szalai, HollywoodReporter, 29 Jan. 2026
Wild and kitschy shows followed with opening fetes dedicated to colorful subjects including Andy Warhol, circus clowns, and Canadian television creators and puppeteers Sid and Marty Krofft.
—Lina Lecaro, Los Angeles Times, 28 Jan. 2026
Performers, clowns and managers talk about the risks, egos and family atmosphere at Cirque, as shots of death-defying stunts play.
—Jesse Whittock, Deadline, 28 Jan. 2026
There are other quirky attractions here, too, like the Clown Motel, where horror enthusiasts can sleep among a collection of more than 6,500 clowns.
—Cailey Rizzo, Travel + Leisure, 21 Jan. 2026
After his parents divorced, his mother took 5-year-old Salazar with her, moving from place to place around South America, and performing as clowns to make money.
—Lisa Deaderick, San Diego Union-Tribune, 17 Jan. 2026
Noun
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
The results will show young women who look an awful lot like circus clowns, with faces hidden under layers of masks, gels, serums, and even face tape.
—Jana Pollack, Parents, 31 Jan. 2026
What awaits you is an emotional journey through family, death, grief, memory, hope, and tears that also features clowns – yes, clowns!
—Georg Szalai, HollywoodReporter, 29 Jan. 2026
Wild and kitschy shows followed with opening fetes dedicated to colorful subjects including Andy Warhol, circus clowns, and Canadian television creators and puppeteers Sid and Marty Krofft.
—Lina Lecaro, Los Angeles Times, 28 Jan. 2026
Performers, clowns and managers talk about the risks, egos and family atmosphere at Cirque, as shots of death-defying stunts play.
—Jesse Whittock, Deadline, 28 Jan. 2026
There are other quirky attractions here, too, like the Clown Motel, where horror enthusiasts can sleep among a collection of more than 6,500 clowns.
—Cailey Rizzo, Travel + Leisure, 21 Jan. 2026
After his parents divorced, his mother took 5-year-old Salazar with her, moving from place to place around South America, and performing as clowns to make money.
—Lisa Deaderick, San Diego Union-Tribune, 17 Jan. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for clowns
Noun
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The two buffoons shave her head, chain her in the basement of a messy remote home and then accuse her of being an alien.—
Randy Myers,
Mercury News,
22 Oct. 2025
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But times have changed, and this team of buffoons is forced to grapple with changing industry ethics and sensationalist journalism in its transition, all while Ron faces an identity crisis that challenges his bravado, his massive ego.—
Travis Bean,
Forbes.com,
22 Aug. 2025
Noun
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Fire crews quickly confined and extinguished the blaze, however, searchers found three dogs dead, Bosse said.—
Jennifer Edwards Baker,
Cincinnati Enquirer,
9 Feb. 2026
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Two young children and two dogs were killed as a result of a house fire Sunday in Jackson, Michigan, the Jackson Fire Department said.—
Paula Wethington,
CBS News,
9 Feb. 2026
Verb
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How to Prune Viburnum Use sharp hand pruners for smaller cuts up to the diameter of a pencil, and loppers or a pruning saw for larger cuts.—
Luke Miller,
Better Homes & Gardens,
7 Feb. 2026
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Options laid out in an Interior Department study of new operating rules absent a seven-state solution envision Lower Basin cuts up to twice what the Southwestern states have suggested.—
Brandon Loomis,
AZCentral.com,
31 Jan. 2026
Noun
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Former Premier League players Troy Deeney and Ashley Williams have been guests in previous weeks, as well as comedians such as Katherine Ryan and Ellie Taylor.—
Eduardo Tansley,
New York Times,
7 Feb. 2026
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The British comedy world has been waiting with bated breath for the cast, which came Tuesday featuring 11 of the UK’s best and brightest comedians.—
Max Goldbart,
Deadline,
6 Feb. 2026
Noun
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Smarmy jerks can get obscenely wealthy in this country just by managing other people’s money.—
Gilad Edelman,
The Atlantic,
7 Feb. 2026
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Moreover, where most clients are great, some are jerks.—
Kathy Kristof,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
12 Jan. 2026
Verb
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More importantly, this origin story of a movie and a movement apes the joie de moviemaking and the jazzy looseness of the original to an absolutely amazing degree, replicating an off-the-cuff feeling that’s more than a second-hand buzz.—
David Fear,
Rolling Stone,
31 Oct. 2025
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There are high columns crawling with ivy, nearly 12 acres of rolling lawns, teensy windows with teensy shutters, and a diminutive pool house that apes a fairy-tale cottage.—
Adriane Quinlan,
Curbed,
16 Sep. 2025
Noun
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Students are required to bring two full decks of cards including the jokers.—
Kris Slugg,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
27 Jan. 2026
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The 166-piece set includes 36 dot, bam, and crack tiles, 12 dragons, 16 winds, 16 flowers, 10 jokers, and four blank spare tiles made from melamine.—
Maggie Horton,
PEOPLE,
8 Jan. 2026
Noun
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But toads and frogs are also prey animals for owls, hawks, skunks, opossums, and raccoons.—
Michelle Mastro,
Martha Stewart,
6 Feb. 2026
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At night, the desert comes alive with coyote howls, prowling skunks and the possibility of larger cats or black bears nearby.—
Joan Meiners,
AZCentral.com,
6 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Clowns.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/clowns. Accessed 16 Feb. 2026.
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