1
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
2
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
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of jocular
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
That’s because of her bright and jocular storytelling.
—Mj Franklin, New York Times, 9 Oct. 2025
Modern American popular culture contains many jocular characters that resemble this folkloric bird, who is delightfully impervious to pain, from cartoon characters such as the Road Runner – an actual bird – to the foulmouthed, self-regenerating antihero Deadpool.
—Perin Gürel, The Conversation, 19 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for jocular
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
That’s because of her bright and jocular storytelling.
—Mj Franklin, New York Times, 9 Oct. 2025
Modern American popular culture contains many jocular characters that resemble this folkloric bird, who is delightfully impervious to pain, from cartoon characters such as the Road Runner – an actual bird – to the foulmouthed, self-regenerating antihero Deadpool.
—Perin Gürel, The Conversation, 19 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for jocular
Recent Examples of Synonyms for jocular
Adjective
-
The satire was fictitious and its intent only humorous.—
Greg Evans,
Deadline,
14 May 2026
-
Meanwhile, Anderson uses vocal effects throughout the record that are both humorous and eerie.—
David Harris,
SPIN,
11 May 2026
Adjective
-
The picture’s eclectic cast, which included Anouk Aimée, Greta Scacchi and Maximilian Schell (with cameos by Faye Dunaway, Holly Hunter and Jeff Goldblum), swirled its merry way across the grand event in search of romance, fame and the ever-elusive movie deal.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
12 May 2026
-
But in the cycling ecosystem, the Rockets are still minnows, a bunch of merry men with a camera — up against teams funded by international business conglomerates and nation states.—
Jacob Whitehead,
New York Times,
9 May 2026
Adjective
-
Zabaglio’s brother, Jamie, visited from Washington and performed a witty free-form comedy act only a few slots after his sibling.—
Christopher Buchanan,
Los Angeles Times,
18 May 2026
-
There are moments of great, witty tenderness here.—
Stephanie Zacharek,
Time,
15 May 2026
Adjective
-
Fishing boats sat docked along the pier, bouncing on top of the water like a row of jolly babies.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
14 May 2026
-
The neighborhood Neighboring St Moritz was adopted in the 19th century by all those jolly-hockey-stick Brits, who introduced skiing and tobogganing, but little Sils Maria has always been more cerebral.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
23 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
But the most clever way to take advantage of this trend?—
Diana Tsui,
Footwear News,
15 May 2026
-
This clever ruse thwarted the late-summer naval attack.—
Kaitlyn Yarborough,
Southern Living,
15 May 2026
Adjective
-
For a splash of color, accessorize with Neous’s cherry-red heeled sandals and Etro’s festive beaded bag.—
Laura Jackson,
Vogue,
14 May 2026
-
The atmosphere is festive, the music lively, and the service on point.—
Essence,
Essence,
13 May 2026
Adjective
-
Disrupting the possibility of cheerful solitude is both a stylistic and social shift, disturbing the film’s non-narrative serenity while depicting how dismantling the safety net displaces basic functions onto those least able to bear them.—
Vadim Rizov,
IndieWire,
16 May 2026
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The care home Marie-Lou runs is a sprawling establishment, with lush, cheerful grounds.—
Stephanie Zacharek,
Time,
15 May 2026
Adjective
-
DeCaro often played likable, even jovial characters, a match for his own personality.—
Chris Jones,
Chicago Tribune,
29 Apr. 2026
-
And the two shared many jovial moments during their exchanges at the state banquet.—
Tiago Ventura,
Time,
29 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Jocular.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/jocular. Accessed 22 May. 2026.
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