droll

[ drohl ]

adjective

, droll·er, droll·est.

1. amusing in an odd way; whimsically humorous; waggish.

   Synonyms: witty, odd, diverting

   Antonyms: serious

noun

1. a droll person; jester; wag.

   Synonyms: clown

verb (used without object)

1. Archaic. to jest; joke.

   Synonyms: clown

droll

/ drəʊl /

adjective

1. amusing in a quaint or odd manner; comical

Derived Forms

• ˈdrolly, adverb
• ˈdrollness, noun

Other Words From

• drollness noun
• drolly adverb

Word History and Origins

Origin of droll¹

First recorded in 1615–25; from Middle French drolle “pleasant rascal,” perhaps from Middle Dutch drol “elf, goblin, fat little man,” ultimately from Old Norse; troll ²( def )

Word History and Origins

Origin of droll¹

C17: from French drôle scamp, from Middle Dutch: imp

Synonym Study

See amusing.

Example Sentences

There is, however, a curious difference between talkers and do’ers as the droll Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy makes clear.

From Ozy

Mortimer smartly repurposes Mitford’s droll prose as a voiceover without framing Fanny’s narration as the full picture.

From Time

Serious in his reporting but droll in delivery, Mudd would broadcast from the Capitol every day the civil rights filibuster lasted, an idea that sprang from Fred Friendly, the new head of CBS News.

From Washington Post

His droll, dark playfulness spills over into the recreations, too.

From Vox

Her observation of the fragility and loveliness of daily life is so sharp and her commentary so droll, trenchant and precise, that the modest world she describes becomes almost numinous.

From Washington Post

And, as the enigmatic front man to an avant garde indie rock group, he is droll, perceptive, and splendidly weird.

From The Daily Beast

And Pratt is at once macho, charming, and droll; a Han Solo for the Facebook generation.

From The Daily Beast

She ran the gamut with physical humor and dished out droll, self-deprecating one-liners.

From The Daily Beast

But unlike True Detective it was also droll, playful, quirky, invigorating, and creative.

From The Daily Beast

Truth in Advertising balances the droll with the hopeful and the glib with the heartfelt.

From The Daily Beast

No one would listen to him but old Monsieur Farival, who went into convulsions over the droll story.

From Project Gutenberg

If this be so, doubtless there must likewise be the ghosts of dogs (what "droll dogs" they must be), also of puppies, and asses.

From Project Gutenberg

Irish anecdotes are exceedingly droll; but they only tend to show the thoughtless side of the Irish character.

From Project Gutenberg

"Your interference in my affairs grows really droll, monsieur," said the Marquis tartly.

From Project Gutenberg

The close association of Parpon and Valmond—that was droll; yet, too, it had a sort of fitness, she knew scarcely why.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• eccentric
• entertaining
• funny
• humorous
• whimsical