Jackanape

/ˈd͡ʒækəneɪp/

Synonyms for "jackanape" (29 found)

Ranked by relevance and common usage.

Closest matches (6)

Strong matches (9)

dandydudefashion platefopfribblegallantlady killer
Noun(2 words)
impimpertinent person

Related words (14)

Choosing the right synonym

  • Closest matches in this entry: beau, beau brummel, blade, blood, clotheshorse.
  • Sentence evidence is available for jackanape, so synonym choice can be checked against real usage rather than a flat word list.
  • Ranking signals come from derived_reverse, opengloss, wordnet.

Synonym selection checklist

  • Match the part of speech before comparing meanings.
  • Check whether the synonym changes intensity, formality, or emotional tone.
  • Read the replacement inside the full sentence, not just beside "jackanape".
  • Prefer the clearest word over the most unusual word when writing for speed or comprehension.

When not to replace "jackanape"

Keep "jackanape" when the sentence already sounds natural, when a synonym would add unintended emphasis, or when readers need the most familiar wording. A synonym should clarify or sharpen the message, not simply make the sentence look more varied.

If two options seem close, choose the one that best matches the audience and purpose of the sentence.

Replacement workflow

1. Preserve meaning

Choose a synonym only if it keeps the core idea of "jackanape" intact in the sentence you are editing.

2. Tune tone

Check whether the replacement sounds more formal, casual, emotional, technical, or forceful than the original word.

3. Re-read context

Read the full sentence after the swap. Keep the synonym only when the sentence becomes clearer or more precise.

Review note: Synonym lists are ranked with lexical data and reviewed for practical writing value. Use the comparison notes, sentence evidence, and source labels together; a high-ranking synonym can still be wrong when the audience, register, or grammar changes.

Final fit check

After choosing a replacement for "jackanape", read the sentence once for meaning and once for rhythm. The best synonym should feel natural in the full sentence, not only accurate in a word list.

If the synonym makes the sentence slower, vaguer, or more dramatic than intended, keep "jackanape" or choose a simpler alternative from the closest-match group.

Sample sentences

4 total sentences available.

Tatoeba + Wiktionary

I will teach a scurvy jackanape priest to meddle or make.

Source: wiktionary

Can Iack an Ape be merry vvhen his clog is at his heele.

Source: wiktionary

Now, she hath favoured, doth favour, and will favour, this jack-an-ape,—for what good part about him I know not, save that as one noble lady will love a messan dog, and another a screaming popinjay, and a third a Barbary ape, so doth it please our noble dame to set her affections upon this stray elf of a page, […]

Source: wiktionary

Who were the aristocracy, to give themselves airs? Jackanapes!

Source: wiktionary

Common questions

What are the closest synonyms for "jackanape"?

Closest matches include beau, beau brummel, blade, blood, clotheshorse.

How should I check whether a synonym fits "jackanape"?

Compare the replacement against real sentence context. This entry includes sample sentences so you can check tone, grammar, and meaning before swapping words.

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