yuk 1 of 2

noun

ˈyək How to pronounce yuk (audio)
variants or yuck also yak or yock
Definition of yuknext
slang
as in joke
something said or done to cause laughter the yuks on this new sitcom are so pathetic that the souped-up laugh track merely adds insult to injury

Synonyms & Similar Words

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yuk

2 of 2

verb

variants or yuck
slang
as in to joke
to make jokes pay no mind to those clowns—they are just yukking it up and don't mean any harm

Synonyms & Similar Words

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of yuk
Noun
If MacKinnon’s message to the Kings was to leave Makar alone, the message from Nate’s bosses to fans this week is that the Stanley Cups don’t matter as much as Presidents’ Trophies (yuck), regular-season success, and franchise stability. — Sean Keeler, Denver Post, 3 Oct. 2026 Even as a young boy (Samdrum Dorje Lama plays him at that age), Tenzing was fascinated with the allure and mystery of the mountain while herding his family’s yaks in Tibet. — Pete Hammond, Deadline, 7 Sep. 2026 The world’s estimated 500 million pastoralists have fine-tuned the skill of living off the meat, dairy, fibers, and hides produced by their herds of sheep, cattle, camels, yaks, reindeer, and llamas. — The Christian Science Monitor, Christian Science Monitor, 2 Sep. 2026 Namgyal worked in Alaska, New York City and finally Colorado, the place most resembling Nepal and the epicenter of yak ranching in the United States. — David Kelly, Los Angeles Times, 8 Aug. 2026 If these clone yaks are meant to boost the farming industry, are they being selectively bred to produce more milk, or better cuts of meat, or specific types of wool? — Jessie Yeung, CNN Money, 25 July 2026
Verb
The West Catholic Athletic League will be an even stronger test, but don’t yuck their yum. — Mercury News, 6 Sep. 2026 Who has more fun than golfers who yuk it up throughout a four-hour round? — Tom Krasovic, San Diego Union-Tribune, 17 Apr. 2025 If that week’s offering was pure schlock, my dad and I would yuk it up. — Shannon Doyne, New York Times, 14 Apr. 2025 Seinfeld heads back to Bay Area Jerry Seinfeld is ready to yuk it up with Bay Area fans. — Randy McMullen, The Mercury News, 3 Oct. 2024 Kevin Hart yuks it up with Laugh Out Loud Radio, a collection of Hart’s specials, shows, and dialogues. — PCMAG, 14 Aug. 2024 Each person gets a chance to stand on one side of a plastic barrier while Yankovic stands on the other and tour photographer Kamal Asar takes a picture of them pretending to organically yuk it up together. — Alex Pappademas, Los Angeles Times, 26 Oct. 2022
Recent Examples of Synonyms for yuk
  1. joke
  2. laugh
  3. joking
  4. gag
  5. giggle
Noun
  • Its frothy, pastel hues and single moment of contrived levity (when one dance claims a trumpet solo for a joke about jamming her toe) is one of those quintessential examples of Balanchine’s repertoire showing its age.
    — Lauren Warnecke, Chicago Tribune, 18 Oct. 2026
  • And the Longhorns’ quarterback, Arch Manning, was the butt of the joke.
    — Noah White, Miami Herald, 18 Oct. 2026
Definition of joke
Noun
  • But acknowledging a property’s cheesy elements isn’t the same as generating consistent laughs from the situation.
    — Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 16 Oct. 2026
  • Among the biggest laughs of the ceremony came during Friml’s take on an awards-show in memoriam.
    — Destiny Jackson, Deadline, 15 Oct. 2026
Definition of laugh
Noun
  • Russell was mentioned in that speech, but in a joking way, playing off of how frequent Oscars director Glenn Weiss, who won for his role helming the 2018 Academy Awards telecast, had used his speech to propose to his then-girlfriend.
    — Hilary Lewis, HollywoodReporter, 9 Oct. 2026
  • Arch Manning's joking comments at a news conference about a fake video of coach Steve Sarkisian slapping ESPN reporter Holly Rowe erupted in controversy.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 17 Sep. 2026
Definition of joking
Noun
  • Quai then presents Whitney with a ball gag, which should have been a light-hearted little nod to her blabbing but instead has the opposite effect and makes Whitney talk even more.
    — Tom Smyth, Vulture, 8 Oct. 2026
  • On the occasion of this momentous anniversary, four Washington Post staffers gathered to discuss the abiding cultural significance — and iconic gags — of one of the greatest television comedies ever.
    — Maura Judkis, Washington Post, 7 Oct. 2026
Definition of gag
Noun
  • Memoirs proceeds from there with that simultaneous posture of high-minded openness and a childish giggle.
    — Jackson McHenry, Vulture, 16 Oct. 2026
  • The letter is met with snaps and giggles, as a 5-year-old Cary warns of imminent death.
    — Maddie Connors, Los Angeles Times, 14 Oct. 2026
Definition of giggle

Browse Nearby Words

yucky
yuk
yukked
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Cite this Entry

“Yuk.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/yuk. Accessed 20 Oct. 2026.

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