How to Use jocular in a Sentence

jocular

adjective
Definition of jocularnext
Synonyms for jocularnext
  • Arnold, who has short red hair and a jocular vibe, is a former Army staff sergeant who served in Iraq and Afghanistan.
    — Deborah Netburn, latimes.com, 9 July 2019
  • The portly, jocular Gibron presided over the worst Bears era ever (though there's still time for John Fox to catch up).
    — Joe Knowles, chicagotribune.com, 1 June 2017
  • To make up for that, Rice adopts a mostly jocular tone, playing up the playfulness of the cast of eccentrics.
    — David Benedict, Variety, 18 Aug. 2021
  • Robin smiled and this encouraged Hamid to be more jocular.
    — Leila Aboulela, Harper's magazine, 10 Jan. 2019
  • There is a reason that Lloyd Webber is feeling so jocular.
    — Brent Lang, Variety, 6 Oct. 2021
  • Among them was Dushoun Almond, a jocular and self-deprecating man who goes by the nickname Bigga.
    — Maria Cramer Amir Hamja, New York Times, 4 June 2023
  • While the lead-up to the budget agreement included sometimes tense wrangling between the mayor’s office and the Council, Monday’s event was jocular and full of good cheer.
    — New York Times, 11 June 2018
  • The video ricochets back and forth between these two modes, alternately jocular and macabre.
    — Hannah Giorgis, The Atlantic, 11 May 2018
  • Bach’s first variation is defined by its jocular rhythmic swing: Hearty strands of 16th notes unfold atop a dancing bass line, until the parts switch roles — and keep on switching.
    — New York Times, 15 May 2020
  • His articles had a rambling, jocular quality and were laced with frank references to a drug habit.
    — Ronan Farrow, The New Yorker, 8 Oct. 2019
  • Others praised her jocular nature and playful sense of humor.
    — Kelly Corbett, House Beautiful, 5 Aug. 2020
  • For nearly half of the video, Markie engages in jocular theatrics, switching into a powdered wig and embodying a character that is equal parts Mozart and James Brown.
    — Shamira Ibrahim, Vulture, 23 July 2021
  • Whatever the right fat-to-beef ratio was, Pratt found it in the Guardians of the Galaxy movies, blending convincing action chops and enough jocular charm to carry a loopy premise in a way that few other actors could have.
    — Daniel Fienberg, The Hollywood Reporter, 29 June 2022
  • Despite being forced to watch the rest of the action, Arriaga maintained his jocular attitude on the sideline Tuesday.
    — Andy Greder, Twin Cities, 6 Feb. 2024
  • There is jocular power, exchanged in handshakes and good-to-see-yas, and the soaring power embedded in the architecture, and the breathless, sidelong power of being in the know.
    — Katy Waldman, Slate Magazine, 29 June 2017
  • After building up a reputable name with their jocular nature, the Rosenthals are readying their first album Teddy Bear Fresh.
    — Carl Lamarre, Billboard, 3 May 2017
  • Mario, who has the bluff, jocular bearing of the classic urban politician, saw himself as a dealmaker who could skirt partisan ruts to achieve a historic breakthrough.
    — Alec MacGillis, New York Times, 15 Sep. 2016
  • The pair have become well-known for their unfiltered and humorous analysis of sports and general news, and their first video for the Worldwide Leader displayed that same off-beat and jocular style.
    — Daniel Rapaport, SI.com, 18 Oct. 2017
  • Barkley is jocular, thoughtful, self-aware and rigorous about making eye contact.
    — Ben Baskin, SI.com, 18 Apr. 2018
  • Much of the stadium audience cheered, not having quite gotten from the inclusion of the late Douglas in his list that Jagger had moved into a more jocular part of his celebrity rundown.
    — Chris Willman, Variety, 15 Oct. 2021
  • Differences between groups in things like height are rarely cause for prejudice beyond a jocular level.
    — The Economist, 7 Nov. 2019
  • And in 1987, jocular rappers the Beastie Boys similarly wore straight-off-the-street outfits, including crinkly jeans, while skiing in Missoula, Mont.
    — Jacob Gallagher, WSJ, 5 Feb. 2020
  • Representatives of the condiment planned to spend the next few days filming their jocular efforts to get residents to remove mayonnaise from their homes.
    — Fox News, 28 Aug. 2018
  • But thin-skinned Trump, unlike the jocular, self-confident Reagan, cannot accept criticism gracefully, much less with a sense of humor.
    — Joel Kotkin, Orange County Register, 19 Feb. 2017
  • Following the touchdown, Kelce celebrated on the sidelines by flexing his bicep before his teammate and fellow tight end, Noah Gray, ran up to him for a jocular head butting of their helmets.
    — Ingrid Vasquez, Peoplemag, 21 Nov. 2023
  • One of the defendant students and his parents filed a motion to strike under the state’s anti-slapp law, saying the posts were jocular in nature, intended as a joke and that the statement the student posted was protected speech.
    — Kim Zetter, WIRED, 18 Mar. 2010
  • Among the cancer staff, there is special affection for the jocular sufferer, the one who makes light of lousy bowel movements and extols the spiritual tonic of neuropathy.
    — Christian Wiman, Harper's magazine, 20 Jan. 2020
  • Known for his rare but always entertaining Q&As, Friedkin was in a sometimes jocular, usually contrary mood at the Chinese.
    — Chris Willman, Variety, 18 Apr. 2023
  • But doesn't make Trump look good -- or particularly jocular.
    — Chris Cillizza, CNN, 17 Apr. 2018
  • West said, in a jocular reference to an apparent plan by the Abbott administration to slow-walk the appointments until after the session ends May 31.
    — Robert T. Garrett, Dallas News, 29 Mar. 2021

Some of these examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'jocular.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Last Updated: