as in joke
something said or done to cause laughter
the senator deftly inserted some smart one-liners into an otherwise sober speech
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of one-liner
Wendt remained in the cast for all 11 seasons, with Norm’s one-liners becoming a staple of the show, earning him six Emmy nominations for best supporting actor in a comedy.
—
Dave Nemetz, TVLine, 20 May 2025
What followed was usually a setup from one of his co-stars followed by a snappy one-liner from Norm.
—Tom Tapp, Deadline, 20 May 2025
Che and Jost give each other savage one-liners — unprintable, in some cases.
—Andy Hoglund Updated, EW.com, 18 May 2025
Then a rambunctious spitfire in the Georgia pageant circuit, the one-liner birthed her nickname and helped land her a spinoff reality show.
—Janine Rubenstein, People.com, 13 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for one-liner
Dave Nemetz, TVLine, 20 May 2025
What followed was usually a setup from one of his co-stars followed by a snappy one-liner from Norm.
—Tom Tapp, Deadline, 20 May 2025
Che and Jost give each other savage one-liners — unprintable, in some cases.
—Andy Hoglund Updated, EW.com, 18 May 2025
Then a rambunctious spitfire in the Georgia pageant circuit, the one-liner birthed her nickname and helped land her a spinoff reality show.
—Janine Rubenstein, People.com, 13 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for one-liner
Recent Examples of Synonyms for one-liner
Noun
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The vibes are confusing, the itinerary is unclear, and Drew—ever the queen of chaos—jokes that naked bears might be involved.—
Shelby Stewart,
Essence,
25 May 2025
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Here’s why and what happened CT proposal noted halfway across globe and becomes butt of jokes.—
Keith M. Phaneuf,
Hartford Courant,
25 May 2025
Noun
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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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The witticism, sometimes misattributed to James Baldwin, began to spread a few months into the coronavirus pandemic, as the shock of mass layoffs started to give way to broader dissatisfaction with work.—
Lora Kelley,
The Atlantic,
21 May 2025
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His frequent presence in lecture halls advanced him as one of America’s earliest stand-up comedians, and many of his wry witticisms, whether they were written or performed, remain part of the public conversation.—
Danny Heitman,
Christian Science Monitor,
9 May 2025
Cite this Entry
“One-liner.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/one-liner. Accessed 5 Jun. 2025.
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