1
as in comedy
humorous entertainment
an actor whose roles range from slapstick to serious drama
Synonyms & Similar Words
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2
as in clowning
wildly playful or mischievous behavior
a lowbrow comedy that relies heavily on slapstick for its laughs
Synonyms & Similar Words
as in zany
Related Words
Dissimilar Words
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of slapstick
Literary Hub, 12 Dec. 2025
Takahashi’s story delights in throwing more and more wrenches in the works with a growing cast of chaotic supporting characters (like the vicious Shampoo and the blowhard Tatewaki Kuno), and the anime adapts their antics as pastel-toned slapstick.
—Kambole Campbell, Vulture, 9 Dec. 2025
Angelica Jade Bastién, Vulture, 19 Dec. 2025
There was an almost slapstick quality to ball after ball being heaved up, over and over, clanging against the rim or missing it altogether.
—Louisa Thomas, New Yorker, 14 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for slapstick
Noun
Based on Shepard’s relationship with his parents, The Rock Garden is a slapstick play that’s performed deadpan.
—Literary Hub, 12 Dec. 2025
Takahashi’s story delights in throwing more and more wrenches in the works with a growing cast of chaotic supporting characters (like the vicious Shampoo and the blowhard Tatewaki Kuno), and the anime adapts their antics as pastel-toned slapstick.
—Kambole Campbell, Vulture, 9 Dec. 2025
Adjective
What is the exact opposite of slapstick comedy?
—Angelica Jade Bastién, Vulture, 19 Dec. 2025
There was an almost slapstick quality to ball after ball being heaved up, over and over, clanging against the rim or missing it altogether.
—Louisa Thomas, New Yorker, 14 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for slapstick
Recent Examples of Synonyms for slapstick
Noun
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The 30-second Super Bowl version manages to capture most of the ridiculousness of the lengthier, two-and-a-half-minute version directed by Spike Jonze, which feels as silly and committed as any of your favorite Stiller comedy moments.—
Omar L. Gallaga,
Los Angeles Times,
9 Feb. 2026
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Sánchez Arévalo has framed the film as a deliberate genre blend — thriller, drama, black comedy and Western — emphasizing that its resistance to easy labelling was central to the appeal.—
Emiliano De Pablos,
Variety,
9 Feb. 2026
Noun
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The clowning isn’t over just yet, though.—
Larisha Paul,
Rolling Stone,
13 Jan. 2026
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Art, meanwhile, occupies a lonely table in the pizzeria and tries to put on his best clowning act for the two women.—
Declan Gallagher,
Entertainment Weekly,
31 Oct. 2025
Adjective
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Part of what makes the World Cup special is the colorful, zany diehard fans.—
Kayla Hayempour,
NBC news,
16 Jan. 2026
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Madeline Cash’s debut wrings laughs from a zany story about a family in crisis.—
Ron Charles,
Washington Post,
16 Jan. 2026
Noun
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Mike begins to struggle with the idea of doing something that might finally give his life (and his death) meaning, and although the film goes in absurd directions, Gavras sells it by pitching everything at the level of epic satire, his grandiose images working in tandem with moments of broad humor.—
Bilge Ebiri,
Vulture,
5 Feb. 2026
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Much of McGaha’s humor centers on the chaos of family life and the eccentric characters found in small-town America.—
Travis Pinson,
Dallas Morning News,
5 Feb. 2026
Noun
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Cole follows up with a joking request to appear on an interlude on the forthcoming project, then asks whether West could send him a care package of clothes — which West agrees to — before exiting the stage.—
Jessica Lynch,
Billboard,
28 Dec. 2025
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Our poll’s options include a joking reference to Dan Marino.—
Greg Cote
December 20,
Miami Herald,
20 Dec. 2025
Adjective
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Both McAdams and O’Brien play with their movie star personae but move beyond those expectations to deliver highly expressive, almost clownish performances — in the best way.—
Katie Walsh,
Twin Cities,
31 Jan. 2026
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Both McAdams and O’Brien move beyond expectations to deliver highly expressive, almost clownish performances — in the best way.—
Katie Walsh,
Los Angeles Times,
30 Jan. 2026
Noun
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Your satire of suburban malaise doesn’t also have to be a hangout comedy with a murderer on the loose.—
Ben Travers,
IndieWire,
12 Feb. 2026
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Roma came close to the top win, in fact — arguably laying the groundwork for the Parasite phenomenon that came the next year, when Bong Joon Ho’s Korean satire, steered by Neon, defied the odds as the first non-English-language film to ever win best picture.—
David Canfield,
HollywoodReporter,
10 Feb. 2026
Noun
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Death by Lightning, adapted by Mike Makowsky from Candice Millard’s 2011 nonfiction book and directed by Matt Ross, hums with the strength of these performances, particularly Shannon’s quiet composure and Macfadyen mining new depths of buffoonery.—
Roxana Hadadi,
Vulture,
1 Dec. 2025
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North Coast Rep will present a show Dec. 11-Dec. 14 with bubbling energy and comedic buffoonery in the British Pantomime version of The Adventures of Robin Hood as its next student production.—
News Release,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
20 Nov. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Slapstick.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/slapstick. Accessed 15 Feb. 2026.
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