1
as in discussion
an exchange of views for the purpose of exploring a subject or deciding an issue
seemingly endless palaver between the negotiating parties
Synonyms & Similar Words
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2
as in chatter
friendly, informal conversation or an instance of this
we should get together and have a nice palaver sometime
Synonyms & Similar Words
1
as in to chat
to engage in casual or rambling conversation
mothers palavering and drinking coffee while watching their children play
Synonyms & Similar Words
2
as in to coax
to get (someone) to do something by gentle urging, special attention, or flattery
I let the salesclerk at the electronics store palaver me into a service contract that I didn't need
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
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Recent Examples of palaver
Noah Rothman, National Review, 18 Jan. 2024
The palaver about Prime Minister Liz Truss’s failed tax-cut plan has obscured the way Mr. Bailey politicized the British central bank.
—The Editorial Board, WSJ, 18 Oct. 2022
Becca Rothfeld, The New Yorker, 19 Nov. 2019
See All Example Sentences for palaver
Noun
And to listen to them is to be privy to some of the most easily ignored palaver the global economic elite has to offer.
—Noah Rothman, National Review, 18 Jan. 2024
The palaver about Prime Minister Liz Truss’s failed tax-cut plan has obscured the way Mr. Bailey politicized the British central bank.
—The Editorial Board, WSJ, 18 Oct. 2022
Verb
On the one hand, Hrabal’s palavering bears a direct relation to reality.
—Becca Rothfeld, The New Yorker, 19 Nov. 2019
See All Example Sentences for palaver
Recent Examples of Synonyms for palaver
Noun
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The discussion later in this article reviews many, but far from all, of the tax changes contained in the BBB.—
Martin Shenkman,
Forbes.com,
6 July 2025
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Trade discussions usually pick up in the next few weeks around the upcoming draft and All-Star Game, and baseball operations president Erik Neander and his staff should have plenty to talk about.—
Marc Topkin,
The Orlando Sentinel,
6 July 2025
Noun
-
There was a lot of chatter about taxes and changes to the tax system for colleges.—
Kelly Phillips Erb,
Forbes.com,
4 July 2025
-
Both players are near the top of their respective positions, but there was a lot of chatter regarding Fitzpatrick.—
James Brizuela,
MSNBC Newsweek,
3 July 2025
Verb
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The Drake Equation, created in 1961 by astronomer Frake Drake, is a way researchers guesstimate how many alien civilizations might be chatting out there in the Milky Way.—
Clyde Wayne Crews Jr,
Forbes.com,
14 July 2025
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On the outing, the couple was photographed walking together side-by-side, chatting and smiling.—
Bailey Richards,
People.com,
13 July 2025
Verb
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Key moment With the bases loaded and one out in the fourth inning, Gausman coaxed Gustavo Campero into a 1-3 double play.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
6 July 2025
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Learn more about how an infinite complexity of brews is coaxed out of those three simple ingredients by touring a brewery.—
Jessica Kozuka,
Travel + Leisure,
6 July 2025
Noun
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According to the company, over 60% of users who complete a consultation go on to purchase a product.—
Javier Hasse,
Forbes.com,
3 July 2025
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Guests first participate in a one-hour consultation so staff can determine programs tailored to each individual person.—
Alysa Guffey,
IndyStar,
2 July 2025
Noun
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Those who didn’t make it to the summer festival will find year-round programming that includes pop-up performances, artist talks, and classes.—
AFAR Media,
AFAR Media,
14 July 2025
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Inside the 2026 Program Our full program will include feature films, episodic projects, and short films — welcoming 90-plus features and 50-plus shorts in 2026 — as well as our annual Beyond Film series, which showcases talks and events with some of the most compelling artists and many more.—
Ryan Lattanzio,
IndieWire,
14 July 2025
Verb
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On Saturday, the protesters clad in Mexico jerseys and waving Mexican, Salvadoran and Honduran flags chanted and conversed mostly in English.—
Emiliano Tahui Gómez,
Austin American Statesman,
2 July 2025
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Daboll was conversing at length with defensive coordinator Shane Bowen during Wednesday’s practice, overseeing an individual defensive backs drill and reviewing their plan for the upcoming 7-on-7 periods.—
Pat Leonard,
New York Daily News,
18 June 2025
Noun
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This debate poses an obstacle to any easy policy wins for the Trump administration on IVF.—
Lucy Tu,
The Atlantic,
11 July 2025
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Gender treatments for minors, which can include puberty-blocking drugs, hormones and, in rarer cases, surgeries, are at the center of fierce medical debate around the world.—
Azeen Ghorayshi,
Chicago Tribune,
11 July 2025
Cite this Entry
“Palaver.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/palaver. Accessed 18 Jul. 2025.
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