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View synonyms for jest

jest

[ jest ]

noun

  1. a joke or witty remark; witticism.

    Synonyms: quip

  2. a bantering remark; a piece of good-natured ridicule; taunt.

    Synonyms: gibe, jape

  3. sport or fun:

    to speak half in jest, half in earnest.

  4. the object of laughter, sport, or mockery; laughing-stock.

    Synonyms: butt

  5. Obsolete. an exploit. Compare gest.


verb (used without object)

  1. to speak in a playful, humorous, or facetious way; joke.
  2. to speak or act in mere sport, rather than in earnest; trifle (often followed by with ):

    Please don't jest with me.

  3. to utter derisive speeches; gibe or scoff.

verb (used with object)

  1. to deride or joke at; banter.

jest

/ dʒɛst /

noun

  1. something done or said for amusement; joke
  2. a frivolous mood or attitude; playfulness; fun

    to act in jest

  3. a jeer or taunt
  4. an object of derision; laughing stock; butt
“Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged” 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

verb

  1. to act or speak in an amusing, teasing, or frivolous way; joke
  2. to make fun of (a person or thing); scoff or mock
“Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged” 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
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Derived Forms

  • ˈjestingly, adverb
  • ˈjesting, adjectivenoun
  • ˈjestful, adjective
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Other Words From

  • jestful adjective
  • jesting·ly adverb
  • outjest verb (used with object)
  • un·jesting adjective
  • un·jesting·ly adverb
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Word History and Origins

Origin of jest1

1250–1300; Middle English; variant spelling of gest
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Word History and Origins

Origin of jest1

C13: variant of gest
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Synonym Study

See joke.
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Example Sentences

X, though, alleges it would be difficult for social media companies to determine whether a user’s post was meant in jest, noting that opinions on the AI-altered video of Harris differed.

I was told last week by Jason Miller, partly in jest, that I shouldn’t worry that there were plenty of people in front of me in line who will be imprisoned.

From Salon

When asked by Politico what exactly Trump meant by that, a campaign official claimed that he was “clearly just floating it in jest.”

From Salon

“We wanted to see what a ‘real’ cult meeting was like,” she said, I think in jest.

From BBC

A few brief, halfhearted laughs gave way to stale air, where the jest hung heavily as the group took mental stock of my presence.

From Salon

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