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witticism

witticism

5 7.2
A clever short remark meant to make people laugh
  • noun
  • /ˈwɪtɪsɪzəm/
translation icon : agudeza
  • There are many more witticisms attributed to Royal, some of which he actually said.

Examples

  • Choose your next witticism carefully, Mr. Bond.

  • The moody, introspective Sutton, usually the most diffident and laconic of individuals, ventured an ill-advised witticism.

    Fiction book (1992)
  • Do you know what a witticism is?

  • A witticism like that would be of interest to people this evening.

  • When they were introduced, he made a witticism, hoping to be liked.

    Fiction book (1998)
  • "The witticism drew a good laugh, but not from me."

    Fiction book (2001)
  • "At the end of a rope!" the others roared at this witticism.

    Fiction book (2002)
  • I continue to bore colleagues at work with stories of the children's witticisms.

    Academic text (1996)
  • The conversation never falters with Floyd, and I enjoy exchanging witticisms with him—or trying to.

    Blog text (18)
  • During the dinner party, she impressed everyone with a clever witticism that had them laughing.

Synonyms

jest
vswitticism
23 4.2

A playful remark meant to make people laugh

is narrower meaning a single clever remark meant to make people laugh
zinger
vswitticism
  • Informal
19 8.1

A short clever remark that surprises and amuses people

is milder and mainly aims to amuse rather than sting
bon mot
vswitticism
  • Formal
4 9.3

A clever short comment that makes people laugh

is the same meaning but uses a different label
smartish remark
vswitticism
6.0

A quick, clever comment that is slightly cheeky

is used to amuse without the added cheeky playful attitude

How Witty

zinger
  • Informal
19 8.1
quip
20 6.4
witticism
5 7.2
joke
1.0
comment
1.0

Surface Forms

witticism singular
witticisms plural

Morphology

witticism = witty (transparent) = wit + ism

The noun denotes something characterized by 'wit' or 'witty' quality (a clever remark), so learners who know 'wit' or 'witty' can infer the meaning; formation is a regular noun derivation from the adjective.

Etymology

Witticism begins with wit, which means 'clever or funny idea', and you can see the same root in witty. So a witticism is a short, clever remark made to amuse people.