half-joking

adjective

1. said, done, or acting in a seemingly jokey manner, but with some serious intent

Other Word Forms

• half-jokingly adverb

Example Sentences

“Now she wants to be Kris Jenner — she wants to be the momager,” Tonatiuh says, only half-joking.

From Los Angeles Times

The City manager may have been half-joking - with the words accompanied by a huge smile and laugh - but 20-year-old O'Reilly has certainly added to his growing reputation.

From BBC

Ruben Amorim may have only been half-joking when he claimed the strains of managing Manchester United were already showing on his youthful features.

From BBC

In stretches, as Riedinger directs her energies toward Liane’s development as an influencer and not her embittered mother or ne’er-do-well love interest, “Wild Diamond” constructs a working-class, Dardennes-style equivalent of that half-joking line about the Kardashian empire, “The devil works hard, but Kris Jenner works harder.”

From Los Angeles Times

“If that hits me, I’m out,” Betts said, only half-joking.

From Los Angeles Times