jocular
adjective
joc·u·lar ˈjä-kyə-lər 
1
: said or done as a joke : characterized by jesting : playful
jocular remarks
2
: given to jesting : habitually jolly or jocund
a jocular man
jocularity
ˌjä-kyə-ˈler-ə-tē
noun -ˈla-rə-
jocularly
ˈjä-kyə-lər-lē
adverb 
Synonyms
- clever
- facetious
- humorous
- smart
- witty
See all Synonyms & Antonyms 
Example Sentences
a jocular man who could make the most serious people smile made the jocular observation that the best way to make a small fortune in the wine business is to start off with a large fortune
Recent Examples on the Web But when Urban, who hails from New Zealand, opens his mouth, out comes a distinctly Kiwi accent and a jocular tone, a far cry from Butcher's growling, expletive-laden Cockwi. 
Evan Romano, Men's Health, 8 July 2022 Whatever the right fat-to-beef ratio was, Pratt found it in the Guardians of the Galaxy movies, blending convincing action chops and enough jocular charm to carry a loopy premise in a way that few other actors could have. Daniel Fienberg, The Hollywood Reporter, 29 June 2022 Much of the stadium audience cheered, not having quite gotten from the inclusion of the late Douglas in his list that Jagger had moved into a more jocular part of his celebrity rundown. Chris Willman, Variety, 15 Oct. 2021 Bob Nystrom, incisive Bob Bourne, jocular tough-guy Clark Gillies, standup Denis Potvin, and the bilingual Swedes, Anders Kallur and Stefan Persson. New York Times, 15 Apr. 2022 Media critics had raised concerns about CNN’s decision to let Cuomo interview his brother about his handling of New York’s pandemic crisis in a series of jocular broadcasts in the spring of 2020. Washington Post, 16 Mar. 2022 To make up for that, Rice adopts a mostly jocular tone, playing up the playfulness of the cast of eccentrics. David Benedict, Variety, 18 Aug. 2021 For nearly half of the video, Markie engages in jocular theatrics, switching into a powdered wig and embodying a character that is equal parts Mozart and James Brown. Shamira Ibrahim, Vulture, 23 July 2021 The nearly jocular acceptance is disarming, and ultimately pleasing. Kyle Smith, National Review, 18 May 2021 See More
Evan Romano, Men's Health, 8 July 2022 Whatever the right fat-to-beef ratio was, Pratt found it in the Guardians of the Galaxy movies, blending convincing action chops and enough jocular charm to carry a loopy premise in a way that few other actors could have. Daniel Fienberg, The Hollywood Reporter, 29 June 2022 Much of the stadium audience cheered, not having quite gotten from the inclusion of the late Douglas in his list that Jagger had moved into a more jocular part of his celebrity rundown. Chris Willman, Variety, 15 Oct. 2021 Bob Nystrom, incisive Bob Bourne, jocular tough-guy Clark Gillies, standup Denis Potvin, and the bilingual Swedes, Anders Kallur and Stefan Persson. New York Times, 15 Apr. 2022 Media critics had raised concerns about CNN’s decision to let Cuomo interview his brother about his handling of New York’s pandemic crisis in a series of jocular broadcasts in the spring of 2020. Washington Post, 16 Mar. 2022 To make up for that, Rice adopts a mostly jocular tone, playing up the playfulness of the cast of eccentrics. David Benedict, Variety, 18 Aug. 2021 For nearly half of the video, Markie engages in jocular theatrics, switching into a powdered wig and embodying a character that is equal parts Mozart and James Brown. Shamira Ibrahim, Vulture, 23 July 2021 The nearly jocular acceptance is disarming, and ultimately pleasing. Kyle Smith, National Review, 18 May 2021 See More Word History
Etymology
Latin jocularis, from joculus, diminutive of jocus — see jocose
First Known Use
1626, in the meaning defined at sense 2
jocular
adjective
1
as in humorous
given to or marked by mature intelligent humor made the jocular observation that the best way to make a small fortune in the wine business is to start off with a large fortune Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
- humorous
- witty
- clever
- funny
- facetious
- playful
- amusing
- joking
- jesting
- comical
- jovial
- droll
- mischievous
- smart
- bantering
- jocose
- comic
- cerebral
- joshing
- highbrow
- ridiculous
- entertaining
- mirthful
- hysterical
- teasing
- prankish
- frivolous
- farcical
- riotous
- merry
- jolly
- uproarious
- flippant
- intellectual
- waggish
- antic
- laughing
- ludicrous
- rollicking
- jocund
- whimsical
- laughable
- risible
- sidesplitting
- screaming
- diverting
- scintillating
- highbrowed
- sunny
- sparkling
- flip
- smart-alecky
- smart-aleck
- pert
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- stupid
- lowbrow
- witless
- hackneyed
- corny
- humorless
- brainless
- serious
- lame
- unamusing
- solemn
- somber
- sombre
- unfunny
- earnest
- hackney
- doleful
- sober
- plaintive
- dolorous
- tearful
- lachrymose
- grave
- serious-minded
- woeful
- uncomic
- sorry
2
as in merry
indicative of or marked by high spirits or good humor the children at the library were charmed by the jocular storyteller Synonyms & Similar Words
- merry
- jolly
- festive
- jovial
- cheerful
- jocose
- witty
- mirthful
- humorous
- funny
- laughing
- gleeful
- lively
- jocund
- playful
- amused
- blithe
- sunny
- amusing
- joyful
- blithesome
- smiling
- happy
- lighthearted
- joking
- spirited
- bright
- gay
- giggling
- chuckling
- delighted
- upbeat
- flippant
- cheery
- jesting
- exuberant
- animated
- facetious
- carefree
- buoyant
- joyous
- jaunty
- sprightly
- chipper
- hilarious
- vivacious
- joshing
- jubilant
- perky
- comical
- ecstatic
- peppy
- easygoing
- frisky
- exultant
- zippy
- rapturous
- frolicsome
- beaming
- blissful
- optimistic
- sportive
- euphoric
- insouciant
- cavalier
- lightsome
- bouncing
- comic
- gladsome
- farcical
- uproarious
- riotous
- radiant
- tickled
- exhilarated
- high
- elated
- antic
- thrilled
- enraptured
- sanguine
- unconcerned
- overjoyed
- hopeful
- rosy
- entranced
- happy-go-lucky
- ravished
- blessed
- sprightful
- sidesplitting
- devil-may-care
- blest
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- melancholy
- sorrowful
- sad
- glum
- blue
- unhappy
- anguished
- abject
- aggrieved
- dispirited
- downcast
- disconsolate
- forlorn
- depressed
- dejected
- lugubrious
- despondent
- crestfallen
- crying
- mournful
- moody
- disgruntled
- heartsick
- doleful
- saddened
- wailing
- heartbroken
- downhearted
- plaintive
- disheartened
- weeping
- somber
- sombre
- brokenhearted
- discontented
- dolorous
- moaning
- lachrymose
- heavyhearted
- joyless
- sobbing
- morose
- sullen
- gloomy
- dark
- low-spirited
- black
- sorry
- saturnine
- woeful
- glum
- cheerless
- gray
- grey
- bleak
- depressing
- dreary
- dismal
- groaning
- desolate
- woebegone
- miserable
- comfortless
- dull
- wretched
- sluggish
- listless
- lethargic
- torpid
Synonym Chooser
Some common synonyms of jocular are facetious, humorous, jocose, and witty. While all these words mean "provoking or intended to provoke laughter," jocular implies a usually habitual fondness for jesting and joking.
a jocular fellow
Although the words facetious and jocular have much in common, facetious stresses a desire to produce laughter and may be derogatory in implying dubious or ill-timed attempts at wit or humor.
facetious comments
While the synonyms humorous and jocular are close in meaning, humorous applies broadly to anything that evokes usually genial laughter and may contrast with witty in suggesting whimsicality or eccentricity.
humorous anecdotes
Jocose is somewhat less derogatory than facetious in suggesting habitual waggishness or playfulness.
jocose proposals
While in some cases nearly identical to jocular, witty suggests cleverness and quickness of mind.
a witty remark