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funny

funny

1.0
Causing people to laugh or smile
  • adjective
  • /ˈfʌni/
translation icon : gracioso
  • The comedian told a funny joke that had the entire audience laughing.
  • a funny story
  • very funny
  • laugh-out-loud funny

Now, why would that be funny rather than tragic?

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Examples

  • And it was always just really funny to watch, you know.

  • And it was just so funny and compelling and weird.

  • And you know dude, sometimes really funny people are just dark.

  • You talk funny, but I like it.

  • Hey, you are a funny boy, Russell.

  • I find this delicious and very, very funny and a great lesson.

  • A friend of mine's got a funny theory.

  • Please write a story about something funny, sad, or scary that happened to you and a friend.

    Academic text (2012)
  • And she was so playful and funny and light.

  • I don't even know if I like him, but he's funny, smart, and interesting.

    Fiction book (1990)

Synonyms

comic
vsfunny
289 1.9

Funny and meant to make people laugh

is a general cause of laughter not only a genre or performance type
hilarious
vsfunny
  • Informal
264 1.5

Causing people to laugh loudly

is ordinary amusement not necessarily extreme or overwhelming laughter
amusing
vsfunny
208 1.0

Causes people to laugh and feel happy

is the general cause of laughter not only light enjoyment
witty
vsfunny
85 3.8

Quick clever remarks that make people laugh

is broader amusement not specifically clever or verbal in nature
humorous
vsfunny
76 1.6

Funny in a way that makes people laugh

is the broad ordinary cause of laughter not a refined style
laughable
vsfunny
60 4.1

So silly or not reasonable that people do not take it seriously

is neutral amusement and not the kind that invites ridicule or scorn
comical
vsfunny
39 3.1

Making people laugh because it is silly or unusual

is general laughter cause rather than one tied to odd or silly events
comedic
vsfunny
34 3.7

About being funny and making people laugh

is more about causing laughter in many situations beyond staged performance
jokey
vsfunny
  • Informal
6 3.9

Said or done to be funny rather than serious

is about causing laughter rather than merely keeping things unserious
risible
vsfunny
  • Formal
3 8.0

To make people laugh

is ordinary amusement rather than laughter caused by plain absurdity
mirthful
vsfunny
1 6.3

Full of joy and laughter

is focused on causing laughter rather than describing a joyful emotional state

Antonyms

452 1.4

Calm and focused, not playful or joking

9 4.2

Does not make people laugh when meant as a joke

Idioms

1 9.6

Saying this shows you are serious and not joking

8.3

To make someone laugh a lot

To make someone laugh or feel amused

Compounds

58 1.9

A short story that makes people laugh

14 1.0

A short story or remark that makes people laugh

6 1.0

A short time when something makes people laugh

funny farm
  • Slur
4 9.9

A hospital for people with serious mental health problems

2 3.7

The spot on the elbow that makes a sharp, tingling pain when hit

2 8.9

Fake bills or coins that people do not accept as real money

funny paper
  • Archaic
2 5.1

A section of a newspaper with comic strips and cartoons

9.9

So funny that you laugh a lot and cannot stop

9.9

A rude slang name for a hospital for people with mental illness

funny meme
  • Texting
3.6

A picture or short video with a joke that people share online

funny phiz
  • Archaic
9.9

A face you make to make people laugh

How Funny

hilarious
  • Informal
264 1.5
funny
1.0
amusing
208 1.0

Surface Forms

funny positive
funnier comparative
funniest superlative

Morphology

funny = fun (transparent) = fun + y

Formed by adding the productive adjectival suffix '-y' to the noun 'fun'; the sense 'causing amusement' follows directly from the base.

Etymology

Funny comes from the simple word fun, which long ago meant a 'trick' or 'to fool', with the ending -y meaning 'full of'. So funny became 'full of fun' and now means something that makes people laugh.