jape 1 of 2

noun

Definition of japenext
as in joke
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

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jape

2 of 2

verb

ˈjāp How to pronounce jape (audio)
as in to joke
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

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 jape
Noun
The camp hatred of Barney is really a leftover 1960s counterculture jape. — Owen Gleiberman, Variety, 24 Jan. 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
Verb
He is reported to have participated in a pestilential online gun culture, replete with tasteless japing about mass shootings. — wsj.com, 12 May 2023 See All Example Sentences for jape
Recent Examples of Synonyms for jape
  1. joke
  2. jest
  3. laugh
  4. joking
Noun
  • My friend Jackie Kashian was hired to write jokes for standup, for a comedian who didn’t have the time.
    — Ava Kofman, New Yorker, 25 Oct. 2026
  • The whole joke is that Chandler is really bad at posing for photos.
    — Bethy Squires, Vulture, 25 Oct. 2026
Definition of joke
Verb
  • Overcompensating star Shiplett, 39, jested about The Odyssey’s status as one of the most anticipated movies of this year in a caption to her post.
    — Tommy McArdle, PEOPLE, 7 July 2026
  • Mamdani has said nobody should throw snowballs at cops — jesting that the public should throw them at him instead — but does not see it as a criminal matter.
    — Thomas Tracy, New York Daily News, 25 Feb. 2026
Definition of jest
Noun
  • White elephant gift exchanges are a holiday party staple, bringing plenty of laughs, a little friendly competition and, of course, the occasional gift-stealing showdown.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 22 Oct. 2026
  • Cohen is so naturally funny and quick with improvisation that there are plenty of laughs along the way.
    — Frank Scheck, HollywoodReporter, 22 Oct. 2026
Definition of laugh
Noun
  • Russell was mentioned in that speech, but in a joking way, playing off of how frequent Oscars director Glenn Weiss, who won for his role helming the 2018 Academy Awards telecast, had used his speech to propose to his then-girlfriend.
    — Hilary Lewis, HollywoodReporter, 9 Oct. 2026
  • Arch Manning's joking comments at a news conference about a fake video of coach Steve Sarkisian slapping ESPN reporter Holly Rowe erupted in controversy.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 17 Sep. 2026
Definition of joking

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Cite this Entry

“Jape.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/jape. Accessed 28 Oct. 2026.

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