droll

[drohl]

adjective

droller, drollest 

1. amusing in an odd way; whimsically humorous; waggish.

   Synonyms: witty, odd, diverting
   Antonyms: serious

noun

1. a droll person; jester; wag.

   Synonyms: clown

verb (used without object)

1. Archaic.,  to jest; joke.

   Synonyms: clown

droll

/ drəʊl /

adjective

1. amusing in a quaint or odd manner; comical

Other Word Forms

• drollness noun
• drolly adverb

Word History and Origins

Origin of droll¹

First recorded in 1615–25; from Middle French drolle “pleasant rascal,” perhaps from Middle Dutch drol “elf, goblin, fat little man,” ultimately from Old Norse; troll ² ( def. )

Word History and Origins

Origin of droll¹

C17: from French drôle scamp, from Middle Dutch: imp

Synonym Study

See amusing.

Example Sentences

Dickens fans will doubtless remember some of the droller names of the characters in his novels, elaborated in the journal he called his Book of Memoranda.

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Mr. Dyer’s droll narration might spark readers’ own distant recollections.

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As a filmmaker, Victor is particularly skilled at doling out warmth, dotted with almost shockingly droll lines of dialogue along the way.

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Even if the film didn’t present a fascinating thematic parallel to Johnson’s career, she’d still be perfectly suited for a movie like “Materialists,” which demands its lead to inhabit Lucy’s droll cynicism.

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As Lucy, she is refreshingly droll, hitting the film’s comedic beats with a softer touch that lends itself to her character’s tendency to play the spin doctor.

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Related Words

• eccentric 
• entertaining 
• funny 
• humorous 
• whimsical