Funny
What it means
Causing laughter or gentle amusement.
Reach for it when praising something that causes laughter or gentle amusement
Her funny story turned the travel delay into a shared joke.
Words to choose between 7
| playful | |
|---|---|
| everyday |
|
| warm | |
| professional | |
| literary |
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playful
Fits when strong sustained laughter is an honest response
Careful Hilarious overstates a mildly amusing line.
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warm
Fits when the effect is a smile or mild laughter
Careful Amusing undersells something genuinely hilarious.
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warm
Fits when lightness and teasing matter more than jokes
Careful Playful material may be charming without being funny.
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professional
Fits when the work intentionally uses comedy in a measured way
Careful Humorous is restrained and may suggest wit rather than laughter.
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professional
Fits when clever language or observation creates the humor
Careful Witty does not fit physical comedy or accidental funniness.
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literary
comical
Fits when appearance or events are laughably absurd
Careful Comical can mock a person who did not intend to entertain.
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literary
Fits when dry, odd humor suits an understated voice
Careful Droll sounds old-fashioned and is wrong for broad exuberant comedy.
Opposites 4
- serious
- unamusing
- dull
- humorless
Common phrases 3
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funny story
Her funny story eased the delay.
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genuinely funny
The final scene is genuinely funny without mocking anyone.
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funny remark
One funny remark restored the group's ease.
Definitions and examples are written for this site. How words are chosen Recording: Dvortygirl, American accent, from Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0 Updated