21 Anti-Jokes You Can’t Help but Laugh at Anyway
Updated: Sep. 22, 2023Trading traditional humor for groan-inducing literal punch lines, these anti-jokes challenge the idea of what a joke can be—and we bet they'll still make you laugh.
Anti-jokes guaranteed to make you chuckle
Anti-jokes are in a league of their own when it comes to humor. Short jokes, bad jokes, and even corny jokes play on words, puns, one-liners, and situations to be funny. The person on the other end of the joke could see the punchline coming from a mile away. Anti-jokes, on the other hand, are humorous because the person on the other end doesn’t expect its punchline. Instead of it being funny or predictable, it could be dry, logical, or even dark. The humor then comes from the literalness of the joke.
Make no mistake, though: Good anti-jokes can be some of the funniest jokes you’ve ever heard; the humor’s just a little different. Ready to laugh in a very literal sense? If so, read on to get your fill of funny anti-jokes.
A man walks into a bar. “Ouch.”
Some of our favorite anti-jokes are funny by accident. These “what do you call” jokes are funny on purpose, though.
What did one Frenchman say to the other?
I have no idea; I don’t speak French. But if you’re an English nerd, you’ll love these grammar jokes.
Two muffins are sitting in the oven.
One says, “Wow, it’s hot in here.” The other one says, “Sure is. Probably about 350 degrees Fahrenheit.” Were you expecting another punch line from this anti-joke? If you’re looking for a good punchline, these “why did the chicken cross the road” jokes will do the trick.
Knock knock.
Who’s there?
To.
To who?
No, “to whom.”
Loving these anti-jokes? Here are some more knock-knock jokes everyone will appreciate.
A horse walks into a bar.
Several of the patrons quickly get up and leave, realizing the potential danger in the situation. Love animals? You won’t stop laughing at these animal memes.
What did the farmer say after he lost his tractor?
“Where’s my tractor?” Need more farm-related jokes? These cow jokes will make you spit up your milk.
Why is 6 afraid of 7?
It’s not. Numbers aren’t sentient and are therefore incapable of feeling fear. Learn the secrets to telling a great joke, straight from stand-up comedians.
Want to hear something that’ll make you smile?
Your face muscles. Check out some of our favorite science jokes.
What did Buzz Lightyear say to Woody?
A lot. There were three movies, and a couple of short films too. For more laughs, don’t miss these bad puns.
A priest, a rabbi, and a monk walk into a bar.
They all get a drink because bars in America are legally required to serve people of all religions. Check out some more of our favorite “walks into a bar” jokes.
What’s a vampire’s favorite food?
Vampires aren’t real. But these Halloween jokes will give you real laughs!
What do you call cheese that isn’t yours?
Stolen. Stealing is bad and you should return it. Here are some of our favorite food jokes.
What do you call a cross between…
…a joke and a rhetorical question? —Reddit user Jesus_The_Super_Jew. These clever jokes will instantly make you sound smart.
What’s the difference between a blonde and a bowling ball?
A blonde is a living person with a specific hair color, and a bowling ball is an inanimate object used in the sport of bowling.
Psst! These hysterically bad ideas that actually worked out well are sure to get you chuckling, too.
What’s black and white and red all over?
Due to the expansive nature of the universe, many items both natural and manufactured could be described in this manner. Move over, anti-jokes. If you laugh at these dark jokes, you might just be a genius!
What’s a pirate’s favorite letter of the alphabet?
None. Historians believe that most pirates were most likely illiterate. —@AntiJokeCat. If you want more funny pirate jokes, here they arrrrr.
Two chemists walk into a bar. The first says “I’ll take a glass of H2O.” The second says “I’ll take a glass of H2O too.”
Since the bartender is not a chemist, he has no idea that H2O2 is the chemical formula for hydrogen peroxide, and gives both chemists a glass of water. Expecting that one to end a little differently, too? If you’re unfamiliar, this is the (rather dark) way that joke usually ends, plus more chemistry jokes.
Helium walks into a bar.
He orders a drink and wonders why his parents decided to give him such an unusual name, as he can never find it on personalized souvenirs. Plus, baristas never, ever get it right. Check out these physics jokes that’ll make you wish you paid more attention in science class.
Roses are red, violets are blue…
…but roses can also be many other colors, including yellow, pink, and white; and violets actually look more purple than blue, hence their name. Next, read these dumb jokes that are actually pretty good.
Submit your best joke here and get $25 if Reader’s Digest runs it.
