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gallows humor

NOUN
humor derived from serious matters
Synonyms


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.

See Examples For:

Schrader, who turns 80 in July, spoke about the coming upheaval with a mixture of fascination, resignation and dry gallows humor.

From Los Angeles Times May 28, 2026

Many China hawks in the administration have taken to gallows humor, calling the shift the ‘Busan Freeze,’ named for the South Korea meeting between the leaders that produced a fragile trade detente.

From The Wall Street Journal Apr. 10, 2026

“I meant it as a bit of gallows humor, but he answered by essentially saying, Actually, sort of,” Gluck, a journalist, writes in his forthcoming memoir, An Exercise in Uncertainty.

From Slate May 2, 2025

It’s a gallows humor with a dark edge.

From New York Times May 5, 2024

I noted as another example of gallows humor that Billie had put out black guest towels and a washcloth for me.

From "Black Like Me" by John Howard Griffin



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