facetiousness

noun

as in lightness
a lack of seriousness often at an improper time underage drinking is a serious problem and not a matter for facetiousness and lame jokes

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of Synonyms for facetiousness
  1. lightness
  2. glee
  3. silliness
  4. cheerfulness
  5. levity
  6. flippancy
  7. frivolity
  8. frivolousness
Noun
  • Gus Birney, Shulman’s real-life daughter, brings an ineffable lightness to Sarah Nell, the joyfulness and sweetness of the portrayal all the more wondrous before of all the darkness that surrounds it.
    — Christopher Arnott, Hartford Courant, 10 Aug. 2026
  • Heaven is a happy scent with a lightness to it that’s perfect for everyday wear—just like a breezy white maxidress in the summer.
    — Reece Andavolgyi, InStyle, 9 Aug. 2026
Definition of lightness
Noun
  • Her parents approach sexuality head on, almost with glee, which is certainly unusual for their time and place.
    — Deborah Treisman, New Yorker, 16 Aug. 2026
  • His earlier display of emotion made the song’s meaning hit even harder — and as the crowd erupted into jumps and shouts of glee, Smith stood there, a grin growing on his lipsticked mouth.
    — Ellise Shafer, Variety, 13 Aug. 2026
Definition of glee
Noun
  • The play’s Bohemian rhapsody is as full of light and life and silliness as its time in Sicilia is wrenching.
    — Sara Holdren, Vulture, 12 Aug. 2026
  • Back on the main stage, Mumford also stripped away the silliness and sarcasm.
    — Théoden Janes, Charlotte Observer, 10 Aug. 2026
Definition of silliness
Noun
  • Kikuko sometimes mistook Shigejiro’s cheerfulness for egoism owing to the distortions produced by her illness.
    — Cynthia Zarin, Harpers Magazine, 4 Aug. 2026
  • Positive qualities—promptness, diligence, cheerfulness—sped up your ascent through the ranks; negative ones—laziness, dissipation, late mornings—slowed it down.
    — Jake Lundberg, The Atlantic, 23 July 2026
Definition of cheerfulness
Noun
  • The actress was, however, able to find levity in filming such a dark moment.
    — Deirdre Durkan, PEOPLE, 10 Aug. 2026
  • Even with more levity and laughs than is typical for a Game of Thrones show, the world of Westeros can really only get so lighthearted.
    — Joe Reid, Vulture, 1 Aug. 2026
Definition of levity
Noun
  • Or how being late or canceling at the last minute is treated with less flippancy than in America.
    — Catherine Heald, Travel + Leisure, 22 June 2026
  • Spaar’s colloquial flippancies only reinforces her fervency.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 1 May 2026
Definition of flippancy
Noun
  • There is much fun and frivolity at the Witch and Culture Festival, but the event also acknowledges some distressing real-life history that goes along with being (or being suspected of being) a witch in Connecticut.
    — Christopher Arnott, Hartford Courant, 3 Aug. 2026
  • Photographer Phil Oh captures the drama and frivolity in Paris as designers present their latest couture collections.
    — Phil Oh, Vogue, 7 July 2026
Definition of frivolity
Noun
  • Let effort speak louder than frivolousness.
    — Tarot.com, Baltimore Sun, 10 Apr. 2026
Definition of frivolousness
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Browse Nearby Words

facetious
facetiousness
face-to-face
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Cite this Entry

“Facetiousness.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/facetiousness. Accessed 19 Aug. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on facetiousness

Nglish: Translation of facetiousness for Spanish Speakers

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