Meaning & use
jocosely
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Meaning
adverbnot comparableliterary
In a joking, playful way, without being serious.
Grammar: Describes how someone speaks or acts: he said jocosely.
Patterns
- say something jocosely
- speak jocosely
He jocosely called himself the greatest chef in the world.
The captain jocosely suggested they swim home.
She waved jocosely and pretended to bow.
Common combinations
- say jocosely
- He said jocosely that he would never retire.
- remark jocosely
- The host remarked jocosely on the weather.
- speak jocosely
- The old doctor spoke jocosely to calm the patient.
- smile jocosely
- She smiled jocosely at the joke.
Synonyms and how they differ
- jokingly
- Jokingly is the ordinary modern word, and jocosely sounds more bookish.
- playfully
- Playfully stresses a light-hearted manner that need not include a joke.
- facetiously
- Facetiously often suggests treating a serious matter with unsuited humor.
- humorously
- Humorously means in a funny way and is neutral, whereas jocosely has a more old-fashioned flavor.
Opposites
Word family
Commonly confused: jocosely or jocularly? jocosely or jocundly?
jocosely vs jocularly
Jocularly is a close and more common relative, whereas jocosely is rarer, so check which fits your tone.
jocosely vs jocundly
Jocundly means cheerfully, but jocosely means in jest.
Practice
"I'll pay you in gold coins," he said ____, knowing they had no money.
Choose one answer.
He is clearly joking, so jocosely fits. Gravely, angrily and sadly all suggest a serious or emotional tone that does not match the situation.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “jocosely”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.