buffoon Hear it!

buffoon Definition

buf·foon (bə fo̵̅o̅n)

noun

a person who is always clowning and trying to be funny; clown

Etymology: Fr bouffon < It buffone, jester < buffare, to jest, puff: of echoic orig.

Related Forms:

buffoon Synonyms

buffoon

n.

joker, clown, comedian; see clown, fool 1, 2.

buffoon Usage Examples

Converse of object

  • bumble: Dave, Barry S Wales Prescott is a bumbling buffoon.
  • make: The show's point was to make buffoons of the out-of-touch representatives responsible for the games industry.
  • play: But rather than playing buffoon to Lee's philosopher, Richard is more laid back and less analytical.
  • become: He has a keen sense of humor without becoming a buffoon.
  • do: News: Trimble demands arms action now Why do the bombing buffoons focus so often on Ealing?
  • have: When they have a complete buffoon as prime minister, the combination is explosive.

Adjective modifier

  • incompetent: I have to say, the men seem to be incompetent buffoons.
  • complete: When they have a complete buffoon as prime minister, the combination is explosive.
  • dangerous: For some reason, we let ourselves get painted as dangerous buffoons who are living in the past.
  • ignorant: I don't know why the ignorant buffoon hasn't rung me yet.
  • pompous: Panel of pompous buffoons with no real grasp of the beautiful game?
  • stumbling: It was a funny and tender film partially because of Moore's steadfast performance to Grant's stumbling buffoon.

Noun used with modifier

  • class: Blunkett, the class buffoon, says that immigrants speaking English at home would help " overcome the schizophrenia which bedevils generational relationships " .
buffoon Quotes

A man so various that he seemed to be Not one, but all mankind's epitome. Stiff in opinions, always in the wrong; Was everything by starts, and nothing long: But, in the course of one revolving moon, Was chemist, fiddler, statesman, and buffoon.

—Dryden,John

Browse dictionary entries near buffoon

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