as in joking
marked by or expressive of mild or good-natured teasing
the gently bantering tone of the couple's conversation
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
as in jesting
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 bantering
Louis Peitzman, Vulture, 27 Feb. 2026
One can leave the sauna to cool off and return, continuing the cycle and enjoying the quiet or bantering with fellow sauna-goers.
—Bridget Fogarty, jsonline.com, 2 Feb. 2026
More time is spent with the characters in locker rooms and on benches with players bantering in a vernacular that Tierney is determined to emphasize blurs the line between homosocial and homosexual.
—Daniel Fienberg, HollywoodReporter, 26 Nov. 2025
Just as Bayazid rose to become tentatively welcome in the shopkeeper’s home, so the shopkeeper rose to a limited bantering acquaintance with his wealthy customers.
—Cressida Leyshon, New Yorker, 23 Nov. 2025
Instead, criticism comes to feel just like bantering at a bar.
—Spencer Kornhaber, The Atlantic, 17 Oct. 2025
Verb
And even in his very brief run as Ghostface, Jason does solid work, bantering with his victim about slashers in a convo that would make Carol Clover proud and delivering one of the series’ more creative kills by luring Laura (Samara Weaving) into an alley as her dating-app match.
—Louis Peitzman, Vulture, 27 Feb. 2026
One can leave the sauna to cool off and return, continuing the cycle and enjoying the quiet or bantering with fellow sauna-goers.
—Bridget Fogarty, jsonline.com, 2 Feb. 2026
More time is spent with the characters in locker rooms and on benches with players bantering in a vernacular that Tierney is determined to emphasize blurs the line between homosocial and homosexual.
—Daniel Fienberg, HollywoodReporter, 26 Nov. 2025
Just as Bayazid rose to become tentatively welcome in the shopkeeper’s home, so the shopkeeper rose to a limited bantering acquaintance with his wealthy customers.
—Cressida Leyshon, New Yorker, 23 Nov. 2025
Instead, criticism comes to feel just like bantering at a bar.
—Spencer Kornhaber, The Atlantic, 17 Oct. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for bantering
Verb
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Green posted a TikTok video of himself receiving medical attention after the show, joking throughout the exchange.—
Ryan Brennan,
Kansas City Star,
16 Mar. 2026
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The minor and Burke were seen joking around in a January 2024 livestream, CNN reported Thursday, following a lengthy review of related posts, interviews and court documents.—
Jami Ganz,
New York Daily News,
14 Mar. 2026
Adjective
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In her response, Stanton was livid and sarcastic.—
Moira Donegan,
New Yorker,
13 Mar. 2026
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Adebayo said with a sarcastic smile.—
Ira Winderman,
Sun Sentinel,
12 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Bantering.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/bantering. Accessed 19 Mar. 2026.
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