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The tone of twee amusement set by the jaunty score, which portends a silly, perhaps even clownishly derisive caricature, one that looks down on its protagonist with an air of superiority?
From Washington Post ● May 31, 2022
Many nonreligious people find this prohibition alienating if not offensive, but in presenting himself clownishly struggling to remain polite, his self-deprecating joke tries to normalize it.
From New York Times ● Jun. 13, 2018
The late penalty conceded fairly clownishly by Marouane Fellaini, then converted by Leighton Baines, was the fifth goal Manchester United have conceded in the last 10 minutes of games this season, costing them eight points.
From The Guardian ● Dec. 5, 2016
Bright-red lipstick extended almost clownishly beyond the contours of her lips.
From The New Yorker ● Oct. 5, 2015
Gat bowed, foolishly, clownishly, and presented me with the book at the bottom of the pile: it was a novel by Jaclyn Moriarty.
From "We Were Liars" by E. Lockhart
