antic

American  

[an-tik] / ˈæn tɪk /

noun

1. Usually antics.

   1. a playful trick or prank; caper.

   2. a grotesque, fantastic, or ludicrous gesture, act, or posture.

2. Archaic.

   1. an actor in a grotesque or ridiculous presentation.

   2. a buffoon; clown.

3. Obsolete.

   1. a grotesque theatrical presentation; ridiculous interlude.

   2. a grotesque or fantastic sculptured figure, as a gargoyle.

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adjective

1. ludicrous; funny.

2. fantastic; odd; grotesque.

   an antic disposition.

verb (used without object)

anticked, anticking

1. Obsolete. to perform antics; caper.

antic British  

/ ˈæntɪk /

noun

1. archaic an actor in a ludicrous or grotesque part; clown; buffoon

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adjective

1. archaic fantastic; grotesque

Other Word Forms

• antically adverb

Etymology

Origin of antic

1520–30; earlier antike, antique < Italian antico ancient (< Latin antīcus, antīquus; antique ), apparently taken to mean “grotesque,” as used in descriptions of fantastic figures found in Roman ruins

Example Sentences

As Gen Z and Gen Alpha increasingly define consumer tastes, these kinds of high-stakes antics are charting a new course for entertainment.

From The Wall Street Journal

Compilations of their antics on YouTube and TikTok routinely rack up millions of views.

From Los Angeles Times

The class has garnered a cult following among Pilates students who are fans of the dancer’s nighttime antics.

From Los Angeles Times

A master of storytelling, Siddiq talks about staying honest, teenagers and their antics, and getting mad about things that aren’t even happening, all while keeping each one of his bits hilarious to the end.

From Los Angeles Times

In The Times, critic David Kipen hailed Pynchon’s classic style as “Olympian, polymathic, erudite, antically funny, often beautiful, at times gross, at others incredibly romantic, never afraid to challenge or even confound.”

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• joke
• shenanigan
• trick