laughingstock

noun

ˈla-fiŋ-ˌstäk How to pronounce laughingstock (audio)
Definition of laughingstocknext
as in joke
a person or thing that is made fun of his nerdy clothes made him the laughingstock of the schoolyard

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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 laughingstock Alphabet had a surprising 750 million average monthly users for its Gemini app, which was just a few years ago a laughingstock. — Jim Cramer, CNBC, 8 Feb. 2026 East could be a gauntlet in ’26-27 A perennial laughingstock compared to the Western Conference, the East should be fun and fierce next season. — Bennett Durando, Denver Post, 19 May 2026 One Boston city council member, Julia Mejia, is pushing a home rule petition allowing non-citizens to vote in elections, a preposterous prospect that is making the city a laughingstock. — Joe Battenfeld, Boston Herald, 26 Mar. 2026 The fundamentalist movement became a national laughingstock. — Michael Luo, New Yorker, 14 June 2026 See All Example Sentences for laughingstock
Recent Examples of Synonyms for laughingstock
  1. joke
  2. fool
Noun
  • The problem is, having our President butt in here was a joke.
    — Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 7 July 2026
  • The two constants in the show, tap-dancing and short ridiculous jokes, start to have the same rhythms and sharp bam-bam-bam impact.
    — Christopher Arnott, Hartford Courant, 6 July 2026
Definition of joke
Noun
  • Being a gent or a supplicant wasn’t the same as being a fool, though.
    — Nicholas Quah, Vulture, 29 June 2026
  • Don’t let the simple style fool you, though, because the ultra-soft foam insoles provide solid arch support.
    — Caitlyn Fitzpatrick, PEOPLE, 29 June 2026
Definition of fool

Browse Nearby Words

laughing off
laughingstock
laughingstocks
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Laughingstock.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/laughingstock. Accessed 8 Jul. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on laughingstock

Nglish: Translation of laughingstock for Spanish Speakers

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