Thesaurus article: causing laughter

These words are for describing things or people that make you laugh.

The most commonly used word is funny.

One opposite of funny is serious.

For more opposites of funny, see the article at serious.

You can also use the word amusing. If someone or something is amusing, it is funny and entertaining.

If a remark, story, piece of writing, etc., is funny, you can describe it as humorous.

If something is extremely funny, you can say that it is hilarious or, in informal language, hysterical.

The words riotous and uproarious can be used to describe performances that are extremely funny. These words are often used in reviews of theatre productions, TV shows, films, etc.

If someone talks in a way that is clever and funny, you can say that they are witty.

The adjective comical is sometimes used if someone or something looks funny, especially without intending to.

In informal language, you can describe a situation that is very funny as a laugh. In informal UK English, someone who is a laugh is a very funny person. In both UK and US English, a person or situation that is very funny can also be informally called a scream.

You can use the words comic and comedy before a noun to refer to shows, performances etc. that are specially written to make people laugh, or to refer to the people who perform them.