one-liner

noun

one-lin·​er ˌwən-ˈlī-nər How to pronounce one-liner (audio)
Synonyms of one-linernext
1
: a very succinct joke or witticism
2
: a succinct or meaningful and especially accurate statement

Examples of one-liner in a Sentence

the senator deftly inserted some smart one-liners into an otherwise sober speech
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
The deadpan one-liners exaggerating his strength, speed and toughness to absurd levels, turned Norris into one of the internet’s first global memes. Bryan Alexander, USA Today, 20 Mar. 2026 With his roundhouse kicks, tough-guy one-liners and a formidable moral compass, Chuck Norris delivered kick-ass heroes for years on screens large and small, cementing himself in pop culture back in the 1980s. Emily St. Martin, Los Angeles Times, 20 Mar. 2026 Even the most promising characters, like a self-aware God with anxiety issues, fizzled out and were left to deliver undercooked one-liners. Eric Vilas-Boas, Vulture, 18 Mar. 2026 Marsden and González make their suave movie star turns look easy, looking comfortable wielding weapons of any sort from an arsenal that ranges from wicked smirks, and killer one-liners to plenty of guns. Stephen Saito, Variety, 16 Mar. 2026 See All Example Sentences for one-liner

Word History

First Known Use

1962, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of one-liner was in 1962

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Cite this Entry

“One-liner.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/one-liner. Accessed 24 Mar. 2026.

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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