Groaner: meaning, definitions and examples

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groaner

[ ˈɡrəʊnər ]

Noun

^{Context #1 | Noun}

in comedy

A groaner is a joke or pun that is considered to be so old, overused, or predictable that it elicits groans from the audience rather than laughter.

Synonyms

cliché joke, overworked humor, tired pun.

Which Synonym Should You Choose?

Word	Description / Examples
groaner	This word is used for jokes that are so corny or bad that people groan in response. The humor is often simplistic or obvious. Why don't scientists trust atoms? Because they make up everything groan
cliché joke	Cliché jokes are those that are overused and no longer funny because everyone has heard them before. They often rely on stereotypes or common tropes. Why did the chicken cross the road? To get to the other side!
tired pun	A tired pun is a play on words that has been used so frequently that it no longer elicits laughter, often seen as unoriginal or uninspired. I'm reading a book on anti-gravity It's impossible to put down
overworked humor	Overworked humor refers to jokes or comedic elements that have been repeated too many times, making them lose their original impact or humor. Someone pulling the same prank every week eventually becomes overworked humor

Examples of usage

It was such a groaner when the comedian told that 'dad joke' about the chicken crossing the road.
The punchline of the joke was such a groaner that no one in the audience even cracked a smile.

Translations

Translations of the word "groaner" in other languages:

🇵🇹 lamentador

🇮🇳 कराहने वाला

🇩🇪 Stöhner

🇮🇩 pengeluh

🇺🇦 стогнальник

🇵🇱 jęczyciel

🇯🇵 うめき声を上げる人

🇫🇷 geignard

🇪🇸 quejica

🇹🇷 inleyen

🇰🇷 신음하는 사람

🇸🇦 المتذمر

🇨🇿 stěžovatel

🇸🇰 kňučal

🇨🇳 呻吟者

🇸🇮 stokajoč

🇮🇸 stynjandi

🇰🇿 ыңырлау

🇬🇪 ძახილი

🇦🇿 inildəyən

🇲🇽 quejumbroso

Etymology

The term 'groaner' originated in the context of comedy and humor, where it refers to jokes or puns that are considered to be cliché, overused, or predictable. Such jokes often elicit groans of disapproval or disappointment from the audience, rather than genuine laughter. The concept of a 'groaner' highlights the subjective nature of humor and the importance of originality and creativity in comedic performances.