A funny synonym can mean two very different things, because funny itself does: something that makes you laugh, or something that feels a bit off. For laughs, reach for amusing, hilarious, humorous, comical or witty. For the strange kind, try odd, peculiar or fishy.
Every sense of the word gets a matching list, so another word for funny is easy to spot; the laughing words are ranked by how hard you laughed, and a short note shows how witty and silly differ.
Swatch at a glance
Best swaps
amusing, hilarious, humorous, wittyPart of speech
AdjectiveMost formal
humorous, droll, comicalMost casual
hysterical, a riot, pricelessStrongest
hilarious, side-splitting, hystericalAntonyms
serious, solemn, dullWatch out
Funny is not fun. A fun party is enjoyable; a funny party makes you laugh or seems strange.
Each funny synonym by sense
People sometimes ask, "funny ha ha or funny peculiar?" That question is the key to choosing well.
| Sense | Words | Sample sentence |
|---|---|---|
| Makes you laugh | amusing, hilarious, humorous, comical, witty | Her speech was witty and short. |
| Silly, goofy | silly, goofy, zany, wacky | The kids invented a zany game. |
| Strange | odd, weird, peculiar, curious | There is a peculiar smell in here. |
| Not quite honest | fishy, suspicious, shady | Something about the deal seems fishy. |
| A bit ill | queasy, under the weather | I feel queasy after the boat ride. |
From a smile to tears of laughter
The chip strip shows how big the laugh is. Amusing gets a smile; it is polite and somewhat restrained. Humorous describes the intent, a piece meant to be funny. Comical is about looks or situations, often slapstick: a comical hat. Hilarious means real laughter. Hysterical means you could not stop, and it is casual.
Writers often overuse hilarious. If a story only drew a chuckle, amusing is more believable.
Witty, silly or sarcastic: the type of humor
Not all funny is the same kind. Witty means clever with words, quick and sharp. Droll is dry and understated, said with a straight face. Silly and goofy are playful and childlike. Cheeky is a little rude in a charming way, mostly British. Sarcastic and ironic describe humor that says the opposite of what it means, and they can sting, so they are not plain synonyms.
Funny swaps in context
- That video is so funny becomes that video is hilarious.
- A funny speech at the wedding becomes a witty speech at the wedding.
- The book has funny moments becomes the book has humorous moments.
- He looked funny in the giant coat becomes he looked comical in the giant coat.
- That's funny, the door was locked becomes that's odd, the door was locked.
- Something funny is going on becomes something fishy is going on.
A text to a friend: "Your dog in that sweater is priceless." Priceless here means so funny it is worth everything, and it lands better than another so funny.
Which word to use where
Book reviews and essays: humorous, comic and witty sound measured. Work talk: amusing and lighthearted are safe; save hysterical for friends, and in a performance review, good-humored or lighthearted praise a colleague without sounding odd. Casual chat: hilarious, a riot and priceless show warmth. Our words for feelings hub gathers more mood vocabulary.
Common mix-ups
Fun describes something enjoyable, not laughable, so a fun weekend and a funny weekend differ; compare on the fun synonyms page. Ridiculous often mocks; it can mean funny, but it usually means unreasonable. Laughable sounds like praise but usually means absurdly bad: a laughable excuse.
Opposite of funny
For the laughing sense, the opposites are serious, solemn, grave and unfunny. Dull and boring work when something fails to entertain, and tragic sits at the far end. For the strange sense, normal and ordinary are the opposites.
- The film starts funny but turns solemn.
- Nothing odd here, everything looks normal.
Frequently asked questions
What word means very, very funny?
Hilarious and hysterical are the strongest everyday choices. Side-splitting is vivid but sounds a little dated.
Which words are more formal than funny?
Humorous and amusing are the most formal. Droll is formal too but suggests dry, quiet humor.
What is a clever word for funny?
Witty describes humor that relies on clever words and quick thinking. It suits writers, speakers and banter.
What is another word for funny meaning strange?
Odd, peculiar, strange and curious all work. Pick fishy if you smell a lie or a trick.
Is funny the same as fun?
No. Fun means enjoyable, while funny either draws a laugh or seems strange. A long hike can be fun without being funny.
What is the opposite of funny?
Serious and solemn are the usual opposites. Unfunny is used when a joke falls flat.