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
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Recent Examples of banter
Julia Jacobs, New York Times, 24 Feb. 2025
There’s a blandly attractive ensemble trading dutifully quippy banter.
—Angie Han, The Hollywood Reporter, 21 Feb. 2025
Hannah Sacks, People.com, 14 Feb. 2025
Your companions are all hanging around doing their own thing, bantering.
—Hayes Madsen, Rolling Stone, 14 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for banter
Noun
The children ice a birthday cake; Alec Baldwin cleans up toys; the boys get summer haircuts; and the parents, who are both executive producers of the show, banter over their 26-year age gap.
—Julia Jacobs, New York Times, 24 Feb. 2025
There’s a blandly attractive ensemble trading dutifully quippy banter.
—Angie Han, The Hollywood Reporter, 21 Feb. 2025
Verb
As Jason and Kylie bantered about who helps out more when their daughters are sick, the retired athlete noted that his kids don't even seem to want his help.
—Hannah Sacks, People.com, 14 Feb. 2025
Your companions are all hanging around doing their own thing, bantering.
—Hayes Madsen, Rolling Stone, 14 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for banter
Recent Examples of Synonyms for banter
Noun
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Conan O'Brien Named Host Of The 2025 Oscars By Megan Cartwright Deputy Entertainment Editor Newsweek Is A Trust Project Member news article 0 Conan O'Brien revealed on his podcast that part of his Oscars promo joke was cut by the Academy.—
Mark Davis,
Newsweek,
14 Mar. 2025
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But the jokes Marley’s friends tell at her bedside are a wake-up call for Link.—
Laura Bradley,
Vulture,
13 Mar. 2025
Noun
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Even if real life divorce is not that funny, this comic take on divorce is set to offer some welcome laughs.—
Joan MacDonald,
Forbes,
13 Mar. 2025
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Garner and Affleck came together to celebrate their youngest child's 13th birthday at a paintball party for Samuel on March 2, where they were seen sharing a laugh and hug.—
Jen Juneau,
People.com,
12 Mar. 2025
Noun
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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
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While Hawley hasn’t left behind any of his signature philosophical dialogue or memorable badinage, Season 5 is also the most reliant on the camera to make its points.—
Jim Hemphill,
IndieWire,
13 Aug. 2024
Noun
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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
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Ally and Jay are both sarcastic, too — their best lines are muttered under their breaths — and their repartee becomes more interesting than the bloody theatrics.—
Amy Nicholson,
Los Angeles Times,
5 Feb. 2025
Noun
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Conan was the perfect host — skillfully guiding us through the evening with humor, warmth and reverence.—
Marcus Jones,
IndieWire,
17 Mar. 2025
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Conan was the perfect host – skillfully guiding us through the evening with humor, warmth and reverence.—
Paul Grein,
Billboard,
17 Mar. 2025
Noun
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The combat is usually riddled with party chatter and characters shouting their special moves, which creates a high-energy crescendo of sights and sounds when paired with the excellent battle music.—
PCMAG,
PCMAG,
18 Mar. 2025
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This set off some table-wide chatter about the most recent World Series, which the Yankees lost to the Dodgers in somewhat humiliating fashion, capped off by a disastrous error-riddled inning that saw a five-run lead evaporate in the decisive Game 5.—
Kaitlyn Tiffany,
The Atlantic,
17 Mar. 2025
Noun
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With time, their caustic raillery transforms into sincere attachment.—
Charlie Tyson,
The Atlantic,
13 May 2021
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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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Trump’s playful and public ribbing of one of the world’s most prominent media moguls underscored the years-long on-again, off-again relationship between the president and publishing tycoon, one that political and media observers told The Hill this week has reached a critical new stage.—
Dominick Mastrangelo,
The Hill,
9 Feb. 2025
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At a 10th anniversary screening at the 2011 New York Film Festival, Anderson and ensemble members Anjelica Huston, Bill Murray and Gwyneth Paltrow indulged in some good-natured ribbing of Hackman’s irascibility on the shoot.—
David Rooney,
The Hollywood Reporter,
3 Sep. 2019
Cite this Entry
“Banter.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/banter. Accessed 23 Mar. 2025.
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