What is a groan inducing pun?

Answer 1

A groan-inducing pun would be a play on words that causes one to respond with a groan. The reasons for groaning in response to a pun may vary, but in general it would be a way of acknowledging a particularly bad, lame, or cheesy pun. A groan could also be a way of appreciating a clever pun without breaking a perceived social barrier for laughing at puns. Lastly, a groan could be caused by a mixed emotional response of irritation and entertainment or an expression of jealousy that the groaner did not think of the pun first. In most cases, however, a groan-inducing pun would be an especially bad one.