jest 1 of 2

1
as in fun
an attitude or manner not to be taken seriously you should know that our teasing was done entirely in jest

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

2
3
4
as in fool
a person or thing that is made fun of his outlandish costumes made him the jest of the town

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

jest

2 of 2

verb

Synonym Chooser

How does the noun jest differ from other similar words?

Some common synonyms of jest are fun, game, play, and sport. While all these words mean "action or speech that provides amusement or arouses laughter," jest implies lack of earnestness and may suggest a hoaxing or teasing.

hurt by remarks said only in jest

In what contexts can fun take the place of jest?

Although the words fun and jest have much in common, fun usually implies laughter or gaiety but may imply merely a lack of serious or ulterior purpose.

played cards just for fun

How are the words game and sport related as synonyms of jest?

Game is close to sport, and often stresses mischievous or malicious fun.

made game of their poor relations

When is it sensible to use play instead of jest?

The words play and jest can be used in similar contexts, but play stresses the opposition to earnest without implying any malice or mischief.

pretended to strangle his brother in play

When could sport be used to replace jest?

The words sport and jest are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, sport applies especially to the arousing of laughter against someone.

teasing begun in sport led to anger

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 jest
Noun
Teams seemingly snatched valuable free agents left and right while the Dolphins’ inactivity became a point of jest for national pundits like Pat McAfee. C. Isaiah Smalls Ii, Miami Herald, 10 Mar. 2025 It's done in jest, making fun of the films that came before it that have exhibited genuine concern for a woman's future past her third decade on this planet. Tommy Tuberville, Newsweek, 7 Mar. 2025
Verb
The two also jested about their pet peeves about each other. Emily St. Martin, Los Angeles Times, 24 Aug. 2023 This led him to jest about a personal request from viewers. Adrianna Freedman, Good Housekeeping, 2 July 2023 See All Example Sentences for jest
Recent Examples of Synonyms for jest
Noun
  • Make fun of the obsessiveness of Method Acting all you like, but Phoenix’s performance in Eddington is unlike any other in his career.
    Scott Phillips, Forbes.com, 15 July 2025
  • That's not long enough to earn the cachet of other performance sub-brands, like BMW's M or Mercedes-Benz's AMG, but N has certainly developed a reputation for fun, attainable, and powder-blue cars.
    Tim Stevens, ArsTechnica, 14 July 2025
Noun
  • Buddusky tries to fill the room with noise, jokes, bluster.
    Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 24 July 2025
  • Sketching swastikas and 'edgy' jokes: Idaho shooter not typical loner Who is Wess Roley?
    Thao Nguyen, USA Today, 24 July 2025
Noun
  • The marijuana photos that appeared this weekend when people googled Taylor Police Department were likely a prank that, for a moment, had some in the community snickering, including the deputy chief.
    Frank Witsil, Freep.com, 14 July 2025
  • What starts as a simple favor to keep her great-niece turns into a wild Halloween night filled with jump scares and pranks — but as usual, nothing frightens her more than bad manners and disrespect. Boo 2!
    Jane LaCroix, People.com, 13 July 2025
Noun
  • Amenities: Free on-site parking, restaurant, rooftop bar, gym, pool and kid’s pool, beach access, dedicated kid’s play area Editor’s tip: Don’t miss the sourdough breads and pastries baked fresh every morning courtesy of the hotel’s new bakery in town, Red Jane.
    Monica Mendal, Vogue, 15 July 2025
  • In an interview, Missouri State senior associate athletic director Casey Hunt made no bones about the fact that the stunt/A&T twofer was a gender-equity play, noting the relatively low cost and high roster capacity of both sports, especially post-House.
    Daniel Libit, Sportico.com, 14 July 2025
Noun
  • Watch the scene where the three men stop at a bar in D.C. Meadows laughs for the first time — a shy, honest laugh.
    Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 24 July 2025
  • Nixon’s spirit drew appreciative laughs from the crowd throughout the competition.
    Calista Oetama, Sacbee.com, 23 July 2025
Noun
  • Simpson, arguably the fastest runner in the game, broke on contact for home as the go-ahead run.
    Marc Topkin, The Orlando Sentinel, 20 July 2025
  • Sosa had a two-run single in the seventh to help the Sox reach double digits in scoring for the second straight game.
    LaMond Pope, Chicago Tribune, 20 July 2025
Noun
  • The universe is playing tricks on you this week, Scorpio, especially in relation to career matters, your public persona or situations involving authority.
    Kyle Thomas, People.com, 13 July 2025
  • One small trellis or fence panel often does the trick.
    Brandee Gruener, Southern Living, 11 July 2025
Noun
  • Women’s sports, especially basketball, are experiencing a remarkable surge.
    Tiana Randall, Forbes.com, 16 July 2025
  • Smith’s deal highlights how, in today’s unmistakably commercialized era of college sports, universities are explicitly prioritizing revenue over all other forms of verifiable success.
    Daniel Libit, Sportico.com, 15 July 2025

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Jest.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/jest. Accessed 30 Jul. 2025.

More from Merriam-Webster on jest

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!