comic relief

American  

noun

1. an amusing scene, incident, or speech introduced into serious or tragic elements, as in a play, in order to provide temporary relief from tension, or to intensify the dramatic action.

2. relief from tension caused by the introduction or occurrence of a comic element, as by an amusing human foible.

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Etymology

Origin of comic relief

First recorded in 1815–25

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

comic relief

Naturally good readers of a room and skilled at misdirection, comedians can inject some comic relief into those tense roundtable moments.

From BBC ● Sep. 26, 2026

Bringing some necessary comic relief is the fourth character, a hearty American woman, Cheryl-Ann, played with funny, galumphing exuberance by Donna Lynne Champlin.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jun. 25, 2026

She manages comedy much better than sincerity but Coiro knows how to work around it, punctuating her big speeches with quick cutaways to comic relief so we don’t dwell on them too much.

From Los Angeles Times ● Apr. 10, 2026

Her co-star, Sean Amsing, provides plenty of comic relief as Roberto, a bon vivant who says things like, “Everything I know about France, I learned from ‘Ratatouille.’”

From Los Angeles Times ● Dec. 3, 2025

“Enchanted assistant, sidekick, comic relief, et cetera, et cetera,” said Boo.

From "Aru Shah and the End of Time" by Roshani Chokshi