Skip to main content
goofball

goofball

23 7.5
A silly person who acts funny to make others laugh
  • noun
  • /ˈɡuːfˌbɔːl/
  • Slang
translation icon : bobalicón
  • During the party, he was being such a goofball that everyone couldn't stop smiling.
  • a big goofball
  • a little goofball
  • kind of goofball

Even there's a goofball contingent in Ireland.

Autoplay Next

Examples

Synonyms

clown
vsgoofball
372 1.0

A performer who wears bright clothes and makes people laugh

is everyday silly behaviour rather than a formal performance
jackass
vsgoofball
  • Offensive
156 8.4

A person who acts very stupidly and annoys others

is silliness intended to amuse rather than crude incompetence
bozo
vsgoofball
  • Offensive
59 8.8

A person who behaves in a silly or careless way

is silliness focused more on being ridiculous and amusing others
doofus
vsgoofball
  • Offensive
43 8.0

A person who acts silly or seems not very smart

is more about playful foolishness aimed to amuse rather than insult
buffoon
vsgoofball
  • Offensive
43 7.4

A person who acts in a silly way to make others laugh

is similar but used more for casual, not theatrical, silliness
goon
vsgoofball
  • Offensive
38 7.8

A person who acts in a silly or clumsy way

is silliness aimed to amuse rather than clumsy awkwardness
cuckoo
vsgoofball
  • Offensive
26 8.4

A person who behaves in a silly or strange way

is silliness directed to get laughs rather than insult intellect
prankster
vsgoofball
24 4.1

A person who plays tricks on people to make them laugh

is silliness focused on spontaneous funny behaviour rather than deliberate tricks
goof
vsgoofball
  • Informal
22 5.9

A person who acts silly to make others laugh

is everyday silly behaviour often aimed specifically to make others laugh
twat
vsgoofball
  • Offensive
15 9.9

An insulting word for a person who does very stupid things

is informal silliness used to be funny rather than strongly insulting
jokester
vsgoofball
7 4.4

A person who often makes other people laugh

is silliness shown through playful actions to provoke laughter rather than jokes
goober
vsgoofball
  • Slang
7 8.7

A silly, friendly person who acts in a funny way

is silliness that can be playful but not always affectionate
fathead
vsgoofball
  • Offensive
6 8.2

A person who is foolish and not very smart

is lighter and funnier, focused on playful ridiculous behaviour
screwball
vsgoofball
  • Offensive
5 8.3

A person who behaves in a strange, silly way

is silliness more simple and less about eccentric oddness
cut-up
vsgoofball
  • Archaic
3 7.8

A person who acts silly to make others laugh

is silliness more about general funny behaviour than deliberate tricks
zany
vsgoofball
3 8.1

A person who acts in a funny, silly way to make people laugh

is silliness without the strong exaggerated clownlike quality
chucklehead
vsgoofball
  • Offensive
2 9.1

A person who is silly and acts foolishly

is silliness more about being deliberately funny rather than mere foolishness
doof
vsgoofball
  • Offensive
2 9.9

A person who acts in a silly or foolish way

is similar but often emphasizes playful intent to amuse others
meshuggener
vsgoofball
  • Offensive
1 9.9

People call someone silly or crazy as a friendly joke

is silliness framed as playful rather than outright craziness
gomer
vsgoofball
  • Offensive
1 9.9

A person who acts silly or clumsy and makes others laugh

is similar but can be less clearly affectionate and more silly overall
gasser
vsgoofball
  • Archaic
1 8.6

A very funny person or thing that makes people laugh

is silliness that may be less impressive and more awkwardly playful
funster
vsgoofball
  • Informal
1 8.9

A person who makes others laugh in a group

is personal foolishness aimed to get laughs rather than general entertainment
goofer
vsgoofball
  • Informal
1 8.8

A person who acts silly to make others laugh

is silliness focused on making others laugh rather than mere mistakes
merry andrew
vsgoofball
  • Offensive
1 9.9

A person who acts silly to make other people laugh

is similar but usually used in informal, everyday situations
galah
vsgoofball
  • Offensive
1 9.9

A silly or foolish person used as an Australian insult

is a general informal term for someone acting to make others laugh
bubble-head
vsgoofball
  • Offensive
1 9.5

A person who is silly and not serious

is silliness more playful and aimed to make others laugh
joker of the group
vsgoofball
3.1

A person in a group who often makes others laugh with funny stories or actions

is silliness focused on being funny in many situations rather than group role
lovable goofball
vsgoofball
  • Informal
6.3

A person who acts silly in a warm, friendly way that makes others smile

is silliness that may be less specifically affectionate and more goofy
derf
vsgoofball
  • Offensive
9.9

A silly or socially awkward person who acts foolishly

is silliness often performed to amuse rather than stuck awkwardness
barney
vsgoofball
  • Offensive
8.8

A person who behaves in a silly or foolish way

is silliness that is more intended to amuse than insult
goofy ahh
vsgoofball
  • Offensive
9.9

A person who acts silly in a way that others find funny or annoying

is a more neutral silly term often used without strong mockery
fart-arse
vsgoofball
  • Offensive
9.9

A person who acts silly in a way that annoys others

is silly behaviour aimed to amuse rather than mainly annoy
guignol
vsgoofball
  • Offensive
9.9

A person who acts like a clown to make others laugh

is everyday goofy behaviour rather than theatrical buffoonery
cheese monkey
vsgoofball
  • Slang
9.9

A person who acts silly and playful

is silliness more widely used to amuse rather than only playful slang

Antonyms

452 1.4

Calm and focused, not playful or joking

Compounds

lovable goofball
  • Informal
6.3

A person who acts silly in a warm, friendly way that makes others smile

How Silly

buffoon
  • Offensive
43 7.4
to clown
  • Informal
37 3.0
goofball
  • Slang
23 7.5
joker
35 2.4

Surface Forms

goofball singular
goofballs plural

Morphology

goofball = goof + ball (semi-transparent) = goof + ball

Both components are recognizable, but 'ball' does not contribute its literal meaning and the compound is a slang/metaphorical term for a person, so the relation is not fully predictable.

Etymology

Goofball comes from the word goof ('a silly mistake' or 'a silly person') plus ball, which gives it a playful feel. So a goofball is someone who acts funny or silly to make people laugh.