as in joke
good-natured teasing or exchanging of clever remarks
members of the Algonquin Round Table were known for their brilliant and witty banter
Synonyms & Similar Words
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as in to joke
to make jokes
the teacher bantered pleasantly, albeit a bit awkwardly, with the students at the school dance
Synonyms & Similar Words
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
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Recent Examples of banter
Noel Murray, New York Times, 12 May 2025
With their quick banter and palpable chemistry, by the time these two kissed in season 4 of Gilmore Girls, fans were at the edge of their seats.
—Stephanie Sengwe, People.com, 10 May 2025
Adam Tschorn, Los Angeles Times, 23 Apr. 2025
First came Amy Schumer’s use of the C-word while bantering with Jennifer Lawrence.
—Vogue, 2 Jan. 2025
See All Example Sentences for banter
Noun
As has been the case over the past few episodes, the ladies’ flirty banter brings some fun energy to otherwise tense scenes.
—Noel Murray, New York Times, 12 May 2025
With their quick banter and palpable chemistry, by the time these two kissed in season 4 of Gilmore Girls, fans were at the edge of their seats.
—Stephanie Sengwe, People.com, 10 May 2025
Verb
Most of it involves the two men bantering (and occasionally bickering) behind the wheel in their current incarnations and the occasional unexpected back-seat cameo (the most memorable one being producer Adler, who financed and directed their first film).
—Adam Tschorn, Los Angeles Times, 23 Apr. 2025
First came Amy Schumer’s use of the C-word while bantering with Jennifer Lawrence.
—Vogue, 2 Jan. 2025
See All Example Sentences for banter
Recent Examples of Synonyms for banter
Noun
-
Think light beer, string lights, pizza, a cake with a callback to a joke from the show on it.—
Kelly Stout,
Rolling Stone,
25 May 2025
-
Sarah Sherman became the butt of a joke in Johansson's musical monologue, with the MCU alum suggesting Sherman had been axed from the show without her knowledge.—
Shania Russell,
EW.com,
25 May 2025
Noun
-
Some of it comes from the ether… from the ether going after Ethan [laughs].—
Andrea Flores,
Los Angeles Times,
25 May 2025
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Customers come and go, street merchants stop in to peddle their wares and the hair braiders bicker over clients, laugh, dance, watch African soap operas on TV and work until their fingers bleed.—
Pam Kragen,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
23 May 2025
Noun
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Each bus has a pair of hosts, whose badinage is corny but crowd-pleasing.—
Patricia Marx,
New Yorker,
5 May 2025
-
In The Kitchen, Wesker tracked the decorum from friendly badinage to hostile vernacular that co-workers sustain just to get through the day.—
Armond White,
National Review,
30 Oct. 2024
Noun
-
Most voters are worried about high prices for food, energy and housing, rather than their leader’s Oval Office repartee.—
Alexander Smith,
NBC news,
30 Mar. 2025
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For all his entertaining repartee, Hedges is keenly aware of when to lock in.—
Ken Rosenthal,
The Athletic,
25 Feb. 2025
Noun
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Sarkar writes with sharp humor and clarity, making complex ideas about power, identity and media feel accessible without dumbing them down.—
Newsweek Staff,
MSNBC Newsweek,
28 May 2025
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The film’s blend of humor, supernatural elements and folklore struck a chord with audiences, paving the way for further exploration of the genre.—
Naman Ramachandran,
Variety,
27 May 2025
Noun
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On December 7, after a 4-2 defeat at Brentford, Newcastle were 12th in the table and, externally, there was chatter about Eddie Howe’s position.—
George Caulkin,
New York Times,
29 May 2025
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Suddenly, though, there is a confluence of intriguing points: The U.S. House of Representatives passed a bill that, if the chatter is to be believed, will see resistance in the Senate but that resistance will be about some combination of spending cuts and tax increases.—
Jim Cramer,
CNBC,
27 May 2025
Noun
-
With time, their caustic raillery transforms into sincere attachment.—
Charlie Tyson,
The Atlantic,
13 May 2021
-
French’s evocation of place, a rural way of life and overall creepiness are superb, as is the dialogue, a festival of Irish raillery and repartee.—
Washington Post,
Washington Post,
14 Oct. 2020
Noun
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None of this will keep Republicans and conservatives from attacking the reconciliation bill with smoke, mirrors and persiflage.—
Michael Hiltzik,
Los Angeles Times,
10 Aug. 2022
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As Nixon’s political strategist, Kevin Phillips, told the New York Times in 1970: All the talk about Republicans making inroads into the Negro vote is persiflage.—
Jane Coaston,
Vox,
12 Oct. 2018
Cite this Entry
“Banter.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/banter. Accessed 3 Jun. 2025.
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