Humorous — Meaning, Definition & Synonyms

adjective /ˈhyüm-rəs/ hu·mor·ous

Meaning & Definition of Humorous

Humorous (adjective)

  1. full of or characterized by that quality which appeals to a sense of the ludicrous or absurdly incongruous, full of or characterized by humor, funny
  2. possessing, indicating, or expressive of an ability to be funny or to be amused by things that are funny, possessing, indicating, or expressive of a sense of humor
  3. humid

Humorous (adjective) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. causing or intended to cause laughter

    "the humorous moments in an otherwise somber affair"

    "most humorous costume went to the girl dressed as Little Bo Peep"

    similar: antic, chucklesome, comedic, comic, comical, droll, farcical, funny, hilarious, humoristic, hysterical, killing, laughable, ludicrous, ridiculous, riotous, risible, screaming, sidesplitting, uproarious
    related: amusing, diverting, entertaining, clownish, knockabout, slapstick, slapsticky, zany, facetious, flip, flippant, pert, smart, smart-aleck, smart-alecky, snickery, jocular, playful, waggish, campy, jokey, priceless, rich, whimsical, witty, wry, blithesome, gleeful, jocose, jocund, jolly, jovial, laughing, mad, merry, mirthful
    opposite: humorless, lame, unamusing, uncomic, unfunny, unhumorous, unhysterical
    near: earnest, grave, no-nonsense, sedate, serious, severe, sober, sobersided, solemn, somber, staid, unsmiling, weighty, affecting, moving, poignant, touching, tragic, lachrymose, mournful, sad, sorrowful, tearful, woeful

  2. given to or marked by mature intelligent humor

    "the movie's a humorous look at love and marriage"

    similar: clever, facetious, jocular, smart, witty
    related: cerebral, highbrow, highbrowed, intellectual, bantering, frivolous, jesting, joking, joshing, teasing, antic, comic, comical, droll, farcical, funny, hysterical, laughable, ludicrous, ridiculous, riotous, risible, rollicking, screaming, sidesplitting, uproarious, amusing, diverting, entertaining, mischievous, playful, prankish, jocose, jocund, jolly, jovial, laughing, merry, mirthful, sunny, scintillating, sparkling, flip, flippant, pert, smart-aleck, smart-alecky, waggish, whimsical
    near: brainless, lowbrow, stupid, witless, corny, hackney, hackneyed, lame, humorless, unamusing, uncomic, unfunny, earnest, grave, serious, serious-minded, sober, solemn, somber, doleful, dolorous, lachrymose, plaintive, sorry, tearful, woeful

Synonyms, Thesaurus & Another Word for Humorous

The most common words with a similar meaning to Humorous:

antic, chucklesome, comedic, comic, comical, droll, farcical, funny, hilarious, humoristic, hysterical, killing, laughable, ludicrous, ridiculous, riotous, risible, screaming, sidesplitting, uproarious, clever, facetious, jocular, smart, witty

Antonyms & Opposite Words for Humorous

Words with the opposite meaning of Humorous:

humorless, lame, unamusing, uncomic, unfunny, unhumorous, unhysterical

Related Words for Humorous

amusing, diverting, entertaining, clownish, knockabout, slapstick, slapsticky, zany, flip, flippant, pert, smart-aleck, smart-alecky, snickery, playful, waggish, campy, jokey, priceless, rich, whimsical, wry, blithesome, gleeful, jocose, jocund, jolly, jovial, laughing, mad

Near Antonyms of Humorous

earnest, grave, no-nonsense, sedate, serious, severe, sober, sobersided, solemn, somber, staid, unsmiling, weighty, affecting, moving, poignant, touching, tragic, lachrymose, mournful, sad, sorrowful, tearful, woeful, brainless, lowbrow, stupid, witless, corny, hackney

Word Forms of Humorous

Derived words: humorously (adverb), humorousness (noun)

Origin & Etymology of Humorous

First known use: 15th century

Vocabulary Lists & Topics for Humorous

Frequently Asked Questions about Humorous

What does "Humorous" mean?

"Humorous" means full of or characterized by that quality which appeals to a sense of the ludicrous or absurdly incongruous, full of or characterized by humor, funny. As an adjective, it is defined as: full of or characterized by that quality which appeals to a sense of the ludicrous or absurdly incongruous, full of or characterized by humor, funny. It has 2 distinct senses.

What is another word for "Humorous"?

Other words for "Humorous" include antic, chucklesome, comedic, comic, comical, droll, farcical and funny. The best synonym depends on which meaning of "Humorous" you intend.

What are different ways to say "Humorous"?

There are 73 words and phrases with a similar meaning to "Humorous". Common alternatives include antic, chucklesome, comedic, comic, comical, droll, farcical, funny, hilarious and humoristic.

What is the opposite of "Humorous"?

Antonyms of "Humorous" include humorless, lame, unamusing, uncomic, unfunny, unhumorous and unhysterical. Near antonyms include earnest, grave, no-nonsense and sedate.

How do you use "Humorous" in a sentence?

Examples of "Humorous" in a sentence: "the humorous moments in an otherwise somber affair"; "most humorous costume went to the girl dressed as Little Bo Peep"; "the movie's a humorous look at love and marriage".

Is "Humorous" a noun, verb, or adjective?

"Humorous" is an adjective.

Is "Humorous" useful for IELTS, TOEFL, and other English exams?

As a B2-level word, "Humorous" is typical of Cambridge B2 First (FCE), IELTS band 5.5–6.5, TOEFL iBT 72–94, PTE Academic 59–75, TOEIC Listening & Reading 785+.

How do you pronounce "Humorous"?

"Humorous" is pronounced /ˈhyüm-rəs/ and divided into syllables as hu·mor·ous.