Puns so bad, they’re good: 15 cheesy jokes to brighten your day (or ruin it)

There’s something oddly satisfying about a cheesy joke so horrendously terrible it leaves you groaning—and then maybe even chuckling a little, almost like an awful movie that you rate five stars on Letterboxd! Sure, we all love a clever punchline, but sometimes a cheesy pun is exactly what the day ordered. Whether you’re in need of a smile or you’re just looking to annoy your friends with a groaner, bad puns have an uncanny way of brightening the mood (or ruining it, depending on who, or whom, you ask).

In a world that’s often far too serious, what better way to break the tension than with humor that’s almost criminal in its cheesiness? These jokes aren’t just bad—they’re gloriously, unapologetically bad. So bad, they’re kind of... good. From food-based wordplay to head-scratching animal gags, we’ve got 15 jokes that are guaranteed to make you laugh—or wince. Either way, they’ll stick with you like a cringy dad joke. You’ve been warned!

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Cheesy, cringy, and oddly lovable: 15 puns to make you smile

When is a door not a door? When it's ajar. (Via Reddit /@orangesand)

Ah, the classic “ajar” joke—a groan-worthy masterpiece that’s been swinging open and shut for decades. It’s so bad, it’ll make you want to lock the door and throw away the key... except, you know, it’s ajar.

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Cheesy joke? What do you call cheese that doesn't belong to you? Nacho cheese. (Via Reddit /@loltoneh)

This joke is as cheesy as it gets, but if you didn’t laugh, that’s nacho problem! Perfect for taco nights or whenever you're in the mood to grate on someone's nerves—just like nacho cheese on chips.

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Want to hear a joke about pizza? Never mind, it's too cheesy. (Via Reddit /@MissSammich)

Pizza and puns—two things no one can resist. This one is just the right amount of saucy, but careful not to serve it too often. One slice of this cheesy joke will fill you up for days.

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How did the hipster burn his tongue? He ate it before it was cool. (Via Reddit /@mrnotloc)

Hipster puns, like their favorite bands, are always underground. This joke is so ahead of its time that it might wear skinny jeans and only drink cold brew. Still, it’s cool in its own tongue-torching way.

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What happens when frogs park illegally? They get toad. (Via Reddit /@GriffyBaby)

Ribbiting humor, anyone? This pun leaps straight to the point and will have you croaking with laughter. Just make sure you don’t park in a lily pad zone, or you’ll be hopping to pay those fines!

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What's red and smells like blue paint? Red paint. (Via Reddit /@yummypoutine)

The pure simplicity of this joke is what makes it stand out—it’s a literal masterpiece. Like abstract art, it leaves you questioning why it exists, and yet, you just can’t look away... or stop laughing.

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What do Christmas and a cat in the desert have in common? Sandy claws! (Via Reddit /@walkslikesummer)

This joke purrs with festive fun. Santa in the desert might get a bit toasty, but nothing beats the image of a cat rocking his sandy claws. A paw-sitively hilarious holiday pun!

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What do you call a fake noodle? An impasta. (Via Reddit /@[deleted])

This cheesy noodle joke is anything but al-dente. It’s flimsy, fake, and deliciously terrible—perfect for when you want to boil over with laughter. Just don’t get caught impastanating a real punster.

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What do you call a fish without an eye? A fsh. (Via Reddit /@sebasawesome)

Get ready to be hooked by this one! This fishy joke leaves out the “eye,” and while it’s barely seaworthy, it’ll have you laughing just for the halibut. Definitely one for the reel pun enthusiasts.

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What did the buffalo say to his son as he was leaving for college? BiSon. (Via Reddit /@crystaltwilight)

No need to get sentimental—this buffalo has dad jokes down to a science. Waving goodbye with a casual “BiSon” as if it didn’t just stampede its way into your heart? Legendary.

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Have you heard about the corduroy pillows? They're making headlines. (Via Reddit /@sanctuarious)

This joke is a soft landing for pun lovers. Corduroy may be out of style, but corduroy pillow puns? Always trending. If you’re looking for a joke that’s sleep-worthy, this one is a headliner.

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What do you call a clairvoyant midget who escapes from prison? A small medium at large. (Via Reddit /@Remedy_Lane)

This cheesy joke sees everything... but couldn’t predict how groan-worthy it would be. A clever mix of wordplay and visual humor, it's a pun that's both small in stature and big in laughs.

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I once had a stepladder... I wish I knew who was my real ladder. (Via Reddit /@CakiePamy)

Ladder jokes don’t come much higher on the “so-bad-it’s-good” scale. This one tugs at the heartstrings while you try to figure out how a ladder family reunion would even work.

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What do you call an alligator wearing a vest? An investigator. (Via Reddit /@BoltVanderHuge0)

Sharp-dressed gators solving mysteries? Yes, please! This pun's got bite, style, and the wit to crack the case. It will have you snapping for more with its irresistible combo of humor and fashion. Someone call Mr. Detective Gator—there’s been a crime of humor, and this cheesy one’s dressed to kill!

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What happened when the wheel was invented? It caused a revolution.

This cheesy joke is on a roll! It’s been spinning around for centuries, but no matter how you try to stop it, it keeps coming back, leaving a trail of groans and giggles in its wake. It’s the original game-changer—literally! A pun that truly has history turning in circles, and it’s still making moves.

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Here are fifteen (melted mozzarella-like) cheesy jokes that would even make a grilled cheese sandwich blush. Regardless of whether you rolled your eyes, moaned, or chuckled, you can be certain that these jokes will linger in your memory. The funniest jokes are sometimes the ones that make you squirm a bit. Therefore, use one of these cheesy puns the next time you need to lighten the mood or break the ice. They will certainly garner a response, even if they don't win you an award!