Synonyms/Hypernyms (Ordered by Estimated Frequency) of noun clowning

2 senses of clowning

Sense 1
buffoonery, clowning, japery, frivolity, harlequinade, prank -- (acting like a clown or buffoon)
       => folly, foolery, tomfoolery, craziness, lunacy, indulgence -- (foolish or senseless behavior)

Sense 2
drollery, clowning, comedy, funniness -- (a comic incident or series of incidents)
       => fun, play, sport -- (verbal wit or mockery (often at another's expense but not to be taken seriously); "he became a figure of fun"; "he said it in sport")

Synonyms/Hypernyms (Ordered by Estimated Frequency) of verb clown

1 sense of clown

Sense 1
clown, clown around, antic -- (act as or like a clown)
       => joke, jest -- (act in a funny or teasing way)