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no laughing matter

ADJECTIVE
serious
Synonyms
STRONGEST
dangerous deep difficult far-reaching grievous important major meaningful severe significant tough urgent
WEAK
arduous fateful fell formidable grave grim hard heavy laborious meaning business menacing momentous no joke of consequence operose out for blood playing hard ball pressing smoking sobering strenuous strictly business threatening ugly unamusing unhumorous worrying
Antonyms
STRONGEST
calm easy facile friendly insignificant little meaningless minor small trivial unimportant worthless
WEAK
flippant funny happy light unserious

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:

"The nuclear annihilation of an American city is no laughing matter," Hakeem Jeffries, the Democratic minority leader in the US House of Representatives, said on X.

From Barron's ● Oct. 6, 2026

For many theater lovers, it’s no laughing matter.

From The Wall Street Journal ● May 8, 2026

While the male friendship recession is no laughing matter, Andrew DeYoung’s new film “Friendship” explores the phenomenon to reveal all of its anxious, hysterical customs.

From Salon ● May 12, 2025

For comedian Marlon Wayans, defending his son from transphobic and homophobic comments is no laughing matter.

From Los Angeles Times ● Feb. 13, 2025

William may have joked in front of the children, but the new regime was no laughing matter.

From "The Woman All Spies Fear" by Amy Butler Greenfield

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