Synonyms for tongue-in-cheek

Most common

humorous · facetious · bantering

Synonyms by meaning

Adjective

Adverb

Definitions

1. adj. 1

   Not intended seriously; jocular or humorous.

   He gave a tongue-in-cheek explanation of why the sky was blue, offering a theory about some primordial discount on light blue paint.

2. adv. 1

   With irony.

   He portrayed them tongue-in-cheek as great lawgivers, as Solons.

Related words

Other spellings

tongue in cheek

Example sentences

• humorous The story of their encounter is somewhat humorous.
• facetious Are you accusing me of being facetious?

By length

8 letters

humorous³, jokingly³

9 letters

facetious³, bantering³, humourous

11 letters

facetiously⁴, banteringly

The small number after each word is its number of syllables (humorous³ = 3 syllables).