1
as in humorousness
the amusing quality or element in something
we failed to see any humor in his mean and juvenile jokes
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in comedy
humorous entertainment
a screenwriter best known for lowbrow humor
Synonyms & Similar Words
3
as in spirit
a state of mind dominated by a particular emotion
the prospect of going out to dinner put her in a good humor all day
Synonyms & Similar Words
4
as in whim
a sudden impulsive and apparently unmotivated idea or action
she was seized by a sudden humor to contact an old college friend that she hadn't seen in ages
Synonyms & Similar Words
as in to cater (to)
to give in to (a desire)
humored her grandfather by listening to his war stories for the hundredth time
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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 humor
Aaron Couch, HollywoodReporter, 14 May 2026
Hosts sometimes have an argumentative style or adopt rhetorical strategies such as irony, jokes, and humor.
—Encyclopedia Britannica, 13 May 2026
Andrew McGowan, Variety, 16 Aug. 2025
Colum scoffs at her offer, claiming that their father only humored Ellen.
—Lincee Ray Published, EW.com, 15 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for humor
Noun
McQuoid struggled to find the right actor to play the role — someone with the imposing size but who could also nail Baraka’s mix of humor, violence and sweetness.
—Aaron Couch, HollywoodReporter, 14 May 2026
Hosts sometimes have an argumentative style or adopt rhetorical strategies such as irony, jokes, and humor.
—Encyclopedia Britannica, 13 May 2026
Verb
The actor then humored the crowd with an impression of the old Hollywood mogul recounting his pursuits of a beautiful woman in the Paramount commissary.
—Andrew McGowan, Variety, 16 Aug. 2025
Colum scoffs at her offer, claiming that their father only humored Ellen.
—Lincee Ray Published, EW.com, 15 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for humor
Recent Examples of Synonyms for humor
Noun
-
Colbert's comedy was political.—
Dana Taylor,
USA Today,
19 May 2026
-
Part of the draw for local leaders and investors, per WSJ, is Bargatze’s family-friendly style of comedy and approachable outlook.—
Colson Thayer,
PEOPLE,
18 May 2026
Noun
-
Evan Mobley and Jarrett Allen were outstanding, and Sam Merrill hit huge corner 3s in the first half to break Detroit’s spirit early.—
Jason Lloyd,
New York Times,
18 May 2026
-
Activist spirits might dismiss this emphasis on the purely sonic as a strategy of avoidance, although the likes of Feizabadi and Kourliandski can’t be accused of sitting idly by.—
Alex Ross,
New Yorker,
18 May 2026
Noun
-
By their very nature, pop-ups are fluid and subject to the whims of weather.—
Sam Flemming,
AJC.com,
20 May 2026
-
But one invite is intensely coveted, small in supply and high in demand—and subject to the whims of one single 71-year-old cable TV billionaire.—
Nate Freeman,
Vanity Fair,
19 May 2026
Noun
-
Oklahoma City’s Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, the league’s MVP for the second year in a row, is a prodigious wearer of fur coats without irony and sunglasses indoors.—
Ashley Fetters Maloy,
Washington Post,
19 May 2026
-
There was an irony running throughout the launch.—
Kate Hardcastle,
Forbes.com,
18 May 2026
Noun
-
Still, this season feels marked by emotion, satire, and, at times, a simple celebration of life itself.—
Tiana Randall,
Forbes.com,
22 May 2026
-
Colbert began hosting The Late Show in 2015, taking the baton from David Letterman, after hosting the news satire show The Colbert Report on Comedy Central.—
Charisma Madarang,
Rolling Stone,
22 May 2026
Noun
-
And the mood in the stands could not have been less connected with events on the pitch.—
Steve Madeley,
New York Times,
18 May 2026
-
Cryotherapy chambers expose the body to extreme sub-zero temperatures for two to three minutes, while cold plunges rely on ice water for similar effects on muscle recovery, inflammation and mood.—
Hanna Wickes,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
18 May 2026
Noun
-
The spooky, rumbling electronic score by Siriusmo (German EDM producer Moritz Friedrich) really bolsters the atmosphere of whimsy, weirdness and a tender sort of melancholy, a combination that’s uniquely Dupieux-ian and all the director’s own.—
Leslie Felperin,
HollywoodReporter,
17 May 2026
-
But there’s an air of whimsy to this trending tile application, too.—
Patricia Shannon,
Better Homes & Gardens,
14 May 2026
Verb
-
To devotees of classic sartorial elegance—especially those who indulge that passion on Instagram—Alexander Kraft needs no introduction.—
Nick Scott,
Robb Report,
3 May 2026
-
Serge, indulging his penchant for modern art, buys a large, expensive, completely white painting, with some slightly-less white lines.—
Andreas Wiseman,
Deadline,
2 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Humor.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/humor. Accessed 23 May. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
