as in jokes
something said or done to cause laughter
by the standards of today's no-holds-barred satire, Will Rogers' homespun japes about politicians seem awfully gentle
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
as in jests
to make jokes
the characters in Oscar Wilde's plays jape with a readiness and sophistication that is rarely, if ever, encountered in real life
Synonyms & Similar Words
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of japes
Entertainment Weekly,
10 Mar. 2026
That is when the japes really started, most prominently on a mid-season bonding trip to Barcelona when four players ‘borrowed’ a taxi after a late-night trip to McDonald’s.
—
Nick Miller,
New York Times,
26 Oct. 2025
Before this fifth season put him closer to the center of the action, Roddy had undoubtedly been a misfit among misfits at Slough House, a desk jockey who would hold court at his computer, issuing snide japes at anyone within earshot.
—
Scott Tobias,
Vulture,
8 Oct. 2025
Noun
Zings, barbs, and japes fly between the two, but the banter soon gives way to grand action set pieces.
—
Entertainment Weekly,
10 Mar. 2026
That is when the japes really started, most prominently on a mid-season bonding trip to Barcelona when four players ‘borrowed’ a taxi after a late-night trip to McDonald’s.
—
Nick Miller,
New York Times,
26 Oct. 2025
Before this fifth season put him closer to the center of the action, Roddy had undoubtedly been a misfit among misfits at Slough House, a desk jockey who would hold court at his computer, issuing snide japes at anyone within earshot.
—
Scott Tobias,
Vulture,
8 Oct. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for japes
Noun
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The pro‑government newspaper Sabah said dozens of viewers were offended by jokes on religion and filed complaints, prompting the investigation.
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Slides, jokes and the occasional embarrassing photo are fair game.
Noun
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This was an era in which a still-unknown Brooks would show up late to the writer’s room—a habit that drove his colleagues nuts—and then get the biggest laughs out of them anyway.
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The laughs never stop coming, and in a season that will reward originals and adaptations alike, this is the writing voters will remember when casting their ballots in January.
Cite this Entry
“Japes.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/japes. Accessed 5 Jul. 2026.
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