Word: droll (adjective)

Associations

The word "droll" describes something or someone that is amusing in an unusual or odd way. It often refers to humor that is a little strange or quirky, but still funny.

• Example 1: "He has a droll sense of humor that makes people laugh unexpectedly." This means his jokes are funny but a bit unusual.
• Example 2: "The movie had a droll quality, with strange characters and odd situations." This means the movie was amusing but in a quirky way.
• Example 3: "She gave a droll smile when she heard the strange story." This shows a smile that suggests amusement mixed with surprise or curiosity.

Synonym: "funny" or "amusing" are close synonyms, but "droll" usually means the humor is a bit more unusual or odd, not just plainly funny.

Substitution

You can replace "droll" with:

• quirky (focuses on odd or unusual traits)
• whimsical (more playful and imaginative)
• amusing (more general, simply funny) Using "quirky" or "whimsical" changes the tone to more playful or strange, while "amusing" is more neutral.

Deconstruction

The word "droll" comes from the French word "drole," which means "funny" or "jester." It has no prefix or suffix; it is a simple adjective. Historically, it was used to describe jesters or people who made others laugh in a strange or clever way.

Inquiry

• Can you think of a person or character who has a droll way of speaking or acting?
• How is droll humor different from straightforward jokes you hear every day?
• Have you ever laughed at something that was strange but funny at the same time? What made it droll?