jocular

adjective

joc·u·lar ˈjä-kyə-lər

Synonyms of jocular next

: said or done as a joke : characterized by jesting : playful

jocular remarks

: given to jesting : habitually jolly or jocund

a jocular man

jocularity

ˌjä-kyə-ˈler-ə-tē

-ˈla-rə-

noun

jocularly

ˈjä-kyə-lər-lē

adverb

Choose the Right Synonym for jocular

witty, humorous, facetious, jocular, jocose mean provoking or intended to provoke laughter.

witty suggests cleverness and quickness of mind.

a witty remark

humorous applies broadly to anything that evokes usually genial laughter and may contrast with witty in suggesting whimsicality or eccentricity.

humorous anecdotes

facetious stresses a desire to produce laughter and may be derogatory in implying dubious or ill-timed attempts at wit or humor.

facetious comments

jocular implies a usually habitual fondness for jesting and joking.

a jocular fellow

jocose is somewhat less derogatory than facetious in suggesting habitual waggishness or playfulness.

jocose proposals

Example Sentences

a jocular man who could make the most serious people smile 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

Recent Examples on the Web Talking about the Oslo Freedom Forum, Thor Halvorssen is a little jocular. —

Jay Nordlinger, National Review, 26 June 2023 Known for his rare but always entertaining Q&As, Friedkin was in a sometimes jocular, usually contrary mood at the Chinese. —

Chris Willman, Variety, 18 Apr. 2023 There is a reason that Lloyd Webber is feeling so jocular. —

Brent Lang, Variety, 6 Oct. 2021 Among them was Dushoun Almond, a jocular and self-deprecating man who goes by the nickname Bigga. —

Maria Cramer Amir Hamja, New York Times, 4 June 2023 With each passing year, that entry looks like the plain MVP of the F&F project—a middle sequel that struck the ideal balance of vehicular thrills, goofy pyrotechnics, and jocular camaraderie. —

A.a. Dowd, Chron, 17 May 2023 If the Avengers have frequently been depicted as uneasy coworkers, trading jocular banter on the job, their interstellar counterparts squabble more like siblings. —

A.a. Dowd, Chron, 28 Apr. 2023 Ahead of the famous furry forecaster’s spectacle in Punxsutawney, Pa., a group of a dozen North Dallas women gathered for their own jocular spin on Groundhog Day. —

Dallas News, 2 Feb. 2022 Castle's tone here is more openly jocular than Whale's original, which chose a satirical approach over a parodic one. —

Declan Gallagher, EW.com, 3 Nov. 2022 See More

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'jocular.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.