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Something that is apposite is relevant or suitable to what is happening or being discussed.
Something austere is simple and plain in its style; an austere person is strict and severe with themselves.
Badinage is lighthearted conversation that involves teasing, jokes, and humor.
Banter is friendly conversation during which people make friendly jokes and laugh at—and with—one another.
The adjective blithe indicates that someone does something casually or in a carefree fashion without much concern for the end result; as a result, they are happy and lighthearted.
Someone in a buoyant mood is in good spirits.
A cavalier person does not seem to care about rules, principles, or other people’s feelings, no matter how dire or serious a situation may be.
A chivalrous man behaves in a polite, kind, generous, and honorable way, especially towards women.
A condign reward or punishment is deserved by and appropriate or fitting for the person who receives it.
A man who is debonair is sophisticated, charming, friendly, and confident.
A dirge is a slow and sad piece of music often performed at funerals.
Someone who is dour is serious, stubborn, and unfriendly; they can also be gloomy.
When something is droll, it is humorous in an odd way.
When a person is being flippant, they are not taking something as seriously as they should be; therefore, they tend to dismiss things they should respectfully pay attention to.
If someone is being glib, they make something sound simple, easy, and problem-free— when it isn’t at all.
The gravity of a situation or event is its seriousness or importance.
Someone who is jocular is cheerful and often makes jokes or tries to make people laugh.
If you describe something as ludicrous, you mean that it is extremely silly, stupid, or just plain ridiculous.
If you are melancholy, you look and feel sad.
Someone who is morose is unhappy, bad-tempered, and unwilling to talk very much.
If you nettle someone, you irritate or annoy them.
If you are oblivious to something that is happening, you do not notice it.
If you are pensive, you are deeply thoughtful, often in a sad and/or serious way.
To be politic in a decision is to be socially wise and diplomatic.
Someone who is saturnine is looking miserable and sad, sometimes in a threatening or unfriendly way.
A spartan lifestyle is very simple and severe; it has no luxuries or comforts.
If a problem or situation is vexing, it puzzles, worries, or annoys someone.
A whimsical idea or person is slightly strange, unusual, and amusing rather than serious and practical.
Someone who is woebegone is very sad and filled with grief.
Adj.
facetious
fuh-SEE-shuhs
Context
When Edgar accepted the service award on his sister’s behalf, the audience was unpleasantly surprised by his humorously inappropriate and facetious remarks. Edgar facetiously joked about his sister’s childhood temper tantrums: it was meant to be funny, but simply did not fit the serious occasion. The Master of Ceremonies approached Edgar at the reception and scolded him for his facetious, unsuitable remarks that had lessened the respect due his sister.
Quiz:Try again!
When might a person be described as facetious?
T's SeriousFace Everyone had a seriousface at the funeral except for Uncle T, who couldn't stop cracking facetious jokes that were completely unsuitable for the funeral of Aunt T.
Examples
You must not think me necessarily foolish because I am facetious, nor will I consider you necessarily wise because you are grave.
— Sydney Smith, English writer and cleric
This is all speculative, even a little facetious, and any gains are not likely to make up for predicted frightening upheavals elsewhere.
—
USA Today
The book lacks consistency of tone: sometimes it reads gravely, at others it indulges in a kind of facetious and slapdash humor.
—
The Economist
This image of free money recalls the facetious prescription of John Maynard Keynes that to get money in circulation again during the Great Depression, the government could simply bury it underground and encourage unemployed workers to dig it up.
—
The Washington Post
Facetious comments are meant to be “witty or humorous.”
Word Theater
Are You Being Served Mr. Lucas is being quite facetious in asking about taking over.
The panel shows a small video clip of either the word in actual use or a scene that represents the meaning of a word. This not only breaks up the monotony of studying words but also provides another avenue to strengthen word meaning. Enjoy!
