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Definitions

buffoonery

[buh-foo-nuh-ree] / bəˈfu nə ri /
NOUN
drollery
Synonyms
STRONG
facetiousness foolishness jest pleasantry raillery waggery whimsicality whimsy
Antonyms
WEAK
seriousness
NOUN
farce
Synonyms
STRONGEST
absurdity burlesque caricature comedy joke mockery parody sham skit slapstick travesty
STRONG
camp horseplay interlude mock play ridiculousness
WEAK
broad comedy high camp low camp pratfall comedy
Antonyms
STRONGEST
seriousness solemnity
WEAK
sobriety tragedy
NOUN
fooling
Synonyms
STRONG
bluffing farce frolicking jesting joshing kidding roughhouse roughhousing sham skylarking spoofing teasing trifling
WEAK
clownishness high jinks horseplay making light mockery nonsense pretense rowdiness
Antonyms
WEAK
seriousness
NOUN
fun
Synonyms
STRONGEST
celebration distraction enjoyment joke joy laughter pastime pleasure sport
STRONG
absurdity ball blast cheer clowning diversion entertainment escapade festivity foolery frolic gaiety gambol game grins holiday horseplay jocularity jollity junketing merriment merrymaking mirth nonsense picnic playfulness recreation rejoicing relaxation riot romp solace tomfoolery treat whoopee
WEAK
big-time good time high jinks jesting joking living it up romping
Antonyms
STRONGEST
work
STRONG
chore drudgery labor task
NOUN
ha-ha
Synonyms
STRONG
antic burlesque caper caprice chestnut clowning drollery epigram escapade farce frolic gag gambol game horseplay humor jape jest lark laugh mischief mummery one-liner parody
WEAK
bon mot hoodwinking monkeyshine payof
Antonyms
STRONG
seriousness tragedy
NOUN
horseplay
Synonyms
STRONGEST
hijinks misbehavior rowdiness
STRONG
antics capers clowning pranks shenanigans tomfoolery
WEAK
fooling around fun and games rough-housing
NOUN
humor
Synonyms
STRONGEST
banter farce fun gag joke playfulness whimsy wisecrack wit
STRONG
amusement badinage clowning comicality drollery facetiousness flippancy gaiety happiness jest jesting jocoseness jocosity jocularity joking joyfulness kidding levity lightness pleasantry raillery tomfoolery witticism wittiness
WEAK
comicalness high spirits
Antonyms
STRONG
sadness seriousness unhappiness
WEAK
depression drama tragedy
NOUN
humorousness
Synonyms
STRONG
amusement badinage banter clowning comedy comicality drollery facetiousness farce flippancy fun funniness gag gaiety happiness jest jocoseness jocosity jocularity
WEAK
comicalness drollness farcicality high spirits jesting
Antonyms
STRONG
sadness seriousness tragedy unhappiness work
NOUN
jocosity
Synonyms
STRONG
amusement badinage banter clowning comedy comicality drollery facetiousness farce flippancy fun funniness gag gaiety happiness humorousness jest jocoseness jocularity joke joyfulness levity lightness playfulness pleasantry raillery ridiculousness tomfoolery whimsy wisecrack wit witticism wittiness
WEAK
comicalness drollness farcicality high spirits jesting joking kidding ludicrousness zaniness
Antonyms
STRONG
sadness seriousness tragedy unhappiness work
NOUN
joke
Synonyms
STRONGEST
antic farce gag humor laugh one-liner parody prank pun stunt trick wisecrack
STRONG
burlesque caper caprice chestnut clowning drollery epigram escapade frolic game ha-ha hoodwinking horseplay jape jest lark mischief mummery payoff play pleasantry put on quirk raillery repartee revel sally saw shenanigan sport spree tomfoolery vagary whimsy witticism yarn
WEAK
bon mot monkeyshine shaggy-dog story snow job
Antonyms
STRONGEST
seriousness tragedy
STRONG
work
NOUN
ludicrousness
Synonyms
WEAK
amusement badinage banter clowning comedy comicality comicalness drollery drollness facetiousness farce farcicality flippancy fun funniness gag gaiety happiness high spirits humorousness jest jesting jocoseness jocosity jocularity joke joking joyfulness kidding levity lightness playfulness pleasantry raillery ridiculousness tomfoolery whimsy wisecrack wit witticism wittiness zaniness
NOUN
merriment
Synonyms
STRONGEST
hilarity revelry
STRONG
brawl cheerfulness conviviality enjoyment festivity frolic fun gaiety glee grins happiness hoopla indulgence jocularity jocundity jollity joviality joy laughs laughter levity liveliness merrymaking mirth picnic recreation revel self-indulgence shindig sport tomfoolery whoopee
WEAK
wingding
Antonyms
STRONG
depression gloom misery sadness seriousness sorrow unhappiness woe work
NOUN
merriment/merrymaking
Synonyms
WEAK
brawl cheerfulness conviviality festivity frolic fun fun and games gaiety glee happiness hilarity hoopla indulgence jocularity jocundity jollity joviality joy laughs laughter levity liveliness mirth picnic recreation revel revelry self-indulgence shindig sport whoopee wingding
Antonyms
WEAK
sadness sorrow unhappiness
NOUN
monkey business
Synonyms
WEAK
absurdity absurdness antics carrying-on clowning around craziness disobedience foolery foolishness hanky-panky high jinks hokey-pokey horse feathers horseplay inanity insanity irresponsibility ludicrousness lunacy misbehavior mischief mischief-making monkeyshine nonsense poppycock prank silliness stupidity tommyrot
NOUN
ridicule
Synonyms
STRONGEST
caricature contempt derision disdain jeer laughter mockery parody sarcasm satire scorn taunt taunting
STRONG
badinage banter burlesque comeback dig disparagement farce foolery gibe irony jab needling persiflage put on raillery roast slam sneer swipe travesty
WEAK
mordancy parting shot put down sardonicism
Antonyms
STRONGEST
admiration approval compliment flattery love praise respect
STRONG
commendation

Frequently Asked Questions

What is another word for buffoonery?
When buffoonery refers to immature joking around, some synonyms include shenanigans, tomfoolery, clowning, antics, and high jinks. The word horseplay can mean something similar, but it often involves playing rough (roughhousing). Buffoonery usually implies behavior that’s silly and perhaps immature or inappropriate, but not necessarily rough. Sometimes, buffoonery refers to a particularly silly kind of humor or comedy. Similar words include slapstick and farce. Slapstick is a kind of absurd physical humor, like a person throwing a pie in someone’s face or stepping on a rake. Farce refers to a kind of comedy that usually involves a ridiculous situation.
Is buffoonery a real word?
Buffoonery isn’t a very common word, but it’s a real one (no joke).
Where does buffoonery come from?
Buffoonery comes from the word buffoon, which refers to a kind of clown or, more figuratively, to a person who’s foolish and undignified. In buffoonery, the ending -ery indicates a kind of behavior—it’s used the same way in the synonym tomfoolery and in words like trickery and quackery. The word buffoon itself has been used since at least the mid-1500s and comes from the Italian verb buffare, meaning “to puff up one’s cheeks.” Picture someone puffing up their cheeks and “popping” them to make a pfft noise—that’s buffoonery.
How do you use buffoonery in a sentence?
Buffoonery isn’t necessarily rare, but it’s not used that often. It’s probably more common to call someone a buffoon than to accuse them of buffoonery. Here are some examples of buffoonery in a sentence:
  • I teach sixth grade, so I’m used to having to deal with buffoonery on a daily basis.
  • The play is full of the kind of physical comedy and buffoonery that fans of the Three Stooges will appreciate.

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

There are early signs of buffoonery involving a maternal wig.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 14, 2025

His mixture of insult, ressentiment, and buffoonery is a work of genius.

From Salon • Feb. 27, 2025

The director Tina Landau, a longtime collaborator, embraces that buffoonery, almost to a fault.

From New York Times • Apr. 25, 2024

“The notion that Cromitie was selected as a ‘leader’ by the co-defendants is inconceivable, given his well-documented buffoonery and ineptitude,” she wrote.

From Seattle Times • Jan. 20, 2024

"But I cannot have any buffoonery here, you know," said Miss Senter.

From The Front Yard by Woolson, Constance Fenimore

Vocabulary lists containing buffoonery

We Are the Ship: The Story of Negro League Baseball

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Vocabulary Video Contest (2013) - List 2

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Stories of Ourselves

Want to remember this word for good? Start your learning journey today with our library of interactive, themed word lists built by the experts at Vocabulary.com – we'll help you make the most of your study time!