groanworthy

Groanworthy is an adjective used to describe something that is likely to provoke a groan from an audience, especially jokes, puns, or situations that are intentionally cheesy or cringeworthy.

The term blends groan and worthy, signaling that the piece earns a reaction of groaning rather than genuine laughter. It is a modern, informal coinage that has gained currency in social media, blogs, and colloquial criticism. The hyphenated form groan-worthy is common; alternative spellings include groanworthy.

Commonly applied to jokes or puns described as corny, obvious, or pun-heavy. It can be used neutrally to acknowledge a deliberate attempt at humor, or pejoratively to critique weak writing or punchlines.

In media and culture, groanworthy humor sits alongside related terms such as cringe-worthy and punny; it is often associated with dad jokes or lighthearted cringe. The label is subjective; what one reader finds groanworthy may amuse another.