antic

1 of 2

noun

an·tic ˈan-tik How to pronounce antic (audio)

: an attention-drawing, often wildly playful or funny act or action : caper

—usually plural

childish antics

archaic : a performer of a grotesque or ludicrous part : buffoon

antic

2 of 2

adjective

: characterized by clownish extravagance or absurdity

an antic farce

: whimsically lighthearted : frolicsome

Gelbart's intelligence is antic and playful.

Lloyd Rose

archaic : grotesque, bizarre

antically

ˈan-ti-k(ə-)lē How to pronounce antic (audio)

adverb

Did you know?

When Renaissance Italians began exploring the ancient Roman ruins around them, they discovered fantastic mural paintings that they called grottesca (which means "grotesques," a name given to the paintings because they were found in caves, or grotte). Because they were so old, the murals were also called antichi, or "ancient things." English speakers adopted antichi, modifying it to antike or anticke, and eventually any behavior or dress reminiscent of the kind depicted in the Roman murals became known as an antic. Within 20 years of its earliest recorded uses as a noun, antic began appearing as an English adjective. Originally, it meant "grotesque" or "bizarre" (a sense now considered archaic), but today it means "playful, funny, or absurd" and the noun means "an often wildly playful or funny act."

Example Sentences

Noun we'll have no more of your antics, so just settle down

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

That’s prime territory for Sandler these days, who has over the years calmed his antic ‘SNL’ blare into thoughtful world-weariness.

Mark Olsen, Los Angeles Times, 10 June 2022 None of us relish being the butt of an unethical antic that does a proverbial pulling of the wool over our eyes.

Lance Eliot, Forbes, 25 Apr. 2022 The adult ought to have more common sense than to tell a teen to do this perilous antic.

Lance Eliot, Forbes, 29 Dec. 2021 Like Moulton’s previous antics, the latest antic may just be met with eyerolls and, yes, television time.

BostonGlobe.com, 25 Aug. 2021 From Moulton’s perspective, the risk-reward dynamic of this latest antic was more favorable than not.

BostonGlobe.com, 25 Aug. 2021 On an app that often privileges the antic, Mr. Boutilier’s anti-takes became a wry course correction.

New York Times, 8 July 2021 Ryan Reynolds, Deadpool star and resident dad-joke machine, just pulled another antic on his family, this time for Father's Day.

Chelsey Sanchez, Harper's BAZAAR, 23 June 2020 Barbara’s antics lead her to be stung by a nasty horde of bees and then, horror of horrors, to endure the unsightly welts that blossom on her face, rendering her physically unbecoming, at least temporarily.

Longreads, 27 Mar. 2020

Adjective

This playfully antic storytelling is complemented by a wild tombola of directorial technique from Begić, a filmmaker usually inclined toward poise and naturalism.

Guy Lodge, Variety, 17 Aug. 2022 Thoroughly taken with its own antic almost-cleverness, the movie is a grisly post-millennial whodunit, graced with actors who are reliably good whether they’re being slashed, bludgeoned or reduced to cheap satirical punchlines.

Justin Chang, Los Angeles Times, 4 Aug. 2022 But where walking simulators were generally melancholy, The Stanley Parable was antic.

Gabriel Winslow-yost, The New York Review of Books, 3 Aug. 2022 Fellini’s early films as a director were in a neorealist mode but had a buoyancy and antic air that suggested a different direction.

Glenn Kenny, BostonGlobe.com, 1 June 2022 Another day, another hilarious antic from American Idol judge Luke Bryan.

Adrianna Freedman, Good Housekeeping, 17 July 2022 Chaplin’s movement is the symphony’s longest, most complex and most impressive, an extraordinary probing portrayal of the Little Tramp as a serious as well as antic artist.

Los Angeles Times, 16 July 2022 Lead singer Matt Berninger leaned into the song with his signature stage posture — half stiff, half antic, hands clasped hard behind his back and straining toward the microphone.

Kayla Samoy, Chicago Tribune, 16 July 2022 The four female performers — Jennifer Barnat, Katie Boren, Emma Green and Katrien Van Riel — switch roles and attitudes with antic aplomb.

Christopher Arnott, Hartford Courant, 8 July 2022 See More

单词	antic
释义	antic 1 of 2 noun an·tic ˈan-tik 1 : an attention-drawing, often wildly playful or funny act or action : caper —usually plural childish antics 2 archaic : a performer of a grotesque or ludicrous part : buffoon antic 2 of 2 adjective 1 a : characterized by clownish extravagance or absurdity an antic farce b : whimsically lighthearted : frolicsome Gelbart's intelligence is antic and playful. Lloyd Rose 2 archaic : grotesque, bizarre antically ˈan-ti-k(ə-)lē adverb Did you know? When Renaissance Italians began exploring the ancient Roman ruins around them, they discovered fantastic mural paintings that they called grottesca (which means "grotesques," a name given to the paintings because they were found in caves, or grotte). Because they were so old, the murals were also called antichi, or "ancient things." English speakers adopted antichi, modifying it to antike or anticke, and eventually any behavior or dress reminiscent of the kind depicted in the Roman murals became known as an antic. Within 20 years of its earliest recorded uses as a noun, antic began appearing as an English adjective. Originally, it meant "grotesque" or "bizarre" (a sense now considered archaic), but today it means "playful, funny, or absurd" and the noun means "an often wildly playful or funny act." Synonyms Noun caper capriccio dido escapade frolic gag jest knavery monkeyshine(s) practical joke prank rag [chiefly British] roguery shavie [Scottish] shine(s) trick waggery Adjective chucklesome comedic comic comical droll farcical funny hilarious humoristic humorous hysterical hysteric killing laughable ludicrous ridiculous riotous risible screaming sidesplitting uproarious See all Synonyms & Antonyms Example Sentences Noun we'll have no more of your antics, so just settle down Recent Examples on the Web Noun That’s prime territory for Sandler these days, who has over the years calmed his antic ‘SNL’ blare into thoughtful world-weariness. Mark Olsen, Los Angeles Times, 10 June 2022 None of us relish being the butt of an unethical antic that does a proverbial pulling of the wool over our eyes. Lance Eliot, Forbes, 25 Apr. 2022 The adult ought to have more common sense than to tell a teen to do this perilous antic. Lance Eliot, Forbes, 29 Dec. 2021 Like Moulton’s previous antics, the latest antic may just be met with eyerolls and, yes, television time. BostonGlobe.com, 25 Aug. 2021 From Moulton’s perspective, the risk-reward dynamic of this latest antic was more favorable than not. BostonGlobe.com, 25 Aug. 2021 On an app that often privileges the antic, Mr. Boutilier’s anti-takes became a wry course correction. New York Times, 8 July 2021 Ryan Reynolds, Deadpool star and resident dad-joke machine, just pulled another antic on his family, this time for Father's Day. Chelsey Sanchez, Harper's BAZAAR, 23 June 2020 Barbara’s antics lead her to be stung by a nasty horde of bees and then, horror of horrors, to endure the unsightly welts that blossom on her face, rendering her physically unbecoming, at least temporarily. Longreads, 27 Mar. 2020 Adjective This playfully antic storytelling is complemented by a wild tombola of directorial technique from Begić, a filmmaker usually inclined toward poise and naturalism. Guy Lodge, Variety, 17 Aug. 2022 Thoroughly taken with its own antic almost-cleverness, the movie is a grisly post-millennial whodunit, graced with actors who are reliably good whether they’re being slashed, bludgeoned or reduced to cheap satirical punchlines. Justin Chang, Los Angeles Times, 4 Aug. 2022 But where walking simulators were generally melancholy, The Stanley Parable was antic. Gabriel Winslow-yost, The New York Review of Books, 3 Aug. 2022 Fellini’s early films as a director were in a neorealist mode but had a buoyancy and antic air that suggested a different direction. Glenn Kenny, BostonGlobe.com, 1 June 2022 Another day, another hilarious antic from American Idol judge Luke Bryan. Adrianna Freedman, Good Housekeeping, 17 July 2022 Chaplin’s movement is the symphony’s longest, most complex and most impressive, an extraordinary probing portrayal of the Little Tramp as a serious as well as antic artist. Los Angeles Times, 16 July 2022 Lead singer Matt Berninger leaned into the song with his signature stage posture — half stiff, half antic, hands clasped hard behind his back and straining toward the microphone. Kayla Samoy, Chicago Tribune, 16 July 2022 The four female performers — Jennifer Barnat, Katie Boren, Emma Green and Katrien Van Riel — switch roles and attitudes with antic aplomb. Christopher Arnott, Hartford Courant, 8 July 2022 See More Word History Etymology Noun and Adjective Italian antico ancient thing or person, from antico ancient, from Latin antiquus — more at antique First Known Use Noun 1564, in the meaning defined at sense 2 Adjective 1536, in the meaning defined at sense 2 Kids Definition antic noun an·tic ˈan-tik : a wildly playful or funny act or action We laughed at the kitten's antics. antic 1 of 2 adjective 1 as in humorous causing or intended to cause laughter antic shenanigans that made me nearly fall over with laughter Synonyms & Similar Words Relevance humorous comedic funny comical amusing comic hysterical ridiculous entertaining hysteric playful farcical hilarious uproarious riotous droll ludicrous witty screaming humoristic sidesplitting laughable risible chucklesome zany clownish killing slapstick waggish whimsical jocular slapsticky knockabout merry flippant mirthful diverting laughing wry jovial jocose facetious flip jokey gleeful campy mad jolly joky jocund blithesome pert smart-alecky priceless smart rich smart-aleck snickery Antonyms & Near Antonyms unfunny unamusing lame serious humorless solemn somber sombre tragical earnest tragic staid sedate grave unsmiling severe unhumorous sober poignant weighty uncomic unhysterical mournful sad touching moving sorrowful tearful lachrymose affecting woeful sobersided no-nonsense See More 2 as in playful given to good-natured joking or teasing an antic group of kids at summer camp Synonyms & Similar Words playful amusing mischievous goofy larky entertaining sportive elfish merry frisky frolicsome coltish energetic rollicking lively delightful silly sportful fay whimsical fun happy impish enjoyable pleasing coy lighthearted prankish frolic roguish spirited jocund kittenish joking vivacious gay knavish pleasant spunky sprightly jocose pixie frivolous jocular teasing rascally devilish jesting trifling diverting pleasurable pixy dabbling Antonyms & Near Antonyms earnest serious solemn dutiful sober somber sombre responsible stolid grim stern grave priggish decorous serious-minded proper sobersided staid formal sedate stuffy starchy restrained inhibited guarded no-nonsense See More antic 2 of 2 noun as in prank a playful or mischievous act intended as a joke we'll have no more of your antics, so just settle down Synonyms & Similar Words prank trick caper escapade adventure joking roguery waggery knavery experience gag capriccio frolic practical joke shine(s) hijinks rag jest time tomfoolery game stunt feat kidding shavie performance monkeyshine(s) skylarking dido lark rowdyism whimsy horseplay roughhousing gambit deed vagary teasing high jinks play hoax whimsey trickery stratagem subterfuge maneuver shenanigan(s) mission deception conceit caprice ruse whim ploy delusion deceit wile fraud fooling fancy sham hoodwinking hanky-panky
随便看	aprotic aprowl aprs après après moi le dé après moi le déluge après nous le déluge après-ski apsaalooke apse apse aisle apses apsheron apsidal apsides apsidiole apsidioles apsis apsus Apsáalooke apt Aptal Aptenodytes aptenodyteses aptenodytesses

antic

noun

adjective

Did you know?

Synonyms

Example Sentences

Word History

Kids Definition

noun

adjective

noun