JESTS Synonyms: 140 Similar and Opposite Words

jests 1 of 2

noun

plural of jest

as in jokes

something said or done to cause laughter laughed politely at his feeble jest about his pet mosquito

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as in pranks

a playful or mischievous act intended as a joke putting a mouse in her desk drawer was intended to be a harmless jest

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as in fools

a person or thing that is made fun of his outlandish costumes made him the jest of the town

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

jests

2 of 2

verb

present tense third-person singular of jest

as in quips

to make jokes when I asked my sister for a loan, she laughingly replied, "Surely you jest!"

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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 jests

Noun

Be sure that your jests don’t become insults! — Usa Today, USA Today, 9 Nov. 2025

Recent Examples of Synonyms for jests

Noun

The story made public an incident that had apparently given rise to jokes and gossip at the Pentagon.

— Lisa Gutierrez, Kansas City Star, 23 Oct. 2026
Those thick locks that inspired so many jealous jokes among your friends and their balding husbands.

— Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 23 Oct. 2026

Definition of jokes

Noun

The Muskego Police Department is warning Muskego High School students about consequences of pranks causing damage after the department received over 20 complaints in less than two weeks.

— Alec Johnson, jsonline.com, 22 Sep. 2026
The set includes a variety of items, including a new book entitled Slappy’s Book of Pranks, which includes directions for over 20 different pranks, Slappy trivia, a history of pranking, jokes and an introduction by Stine himself.

— Carly Tagen-Dye, PEOPLE, 18 Sep. 2026

Definition of pranks

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 laughs

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jesting

jests

jet

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Style

“Jests.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/jests. Accessed 27 Oct. 2026.

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Synonyms of jests

noun

verb

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