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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
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Recent Examples of banter
Tarot.com, The Orlando Sentinel, 12 May 2026
The conversation includes some light teasing about each other’s attachment styles — the intimate banter of close friends.
—Maddie Connors, Los Angeles Times, 4 May 2026
Erin Clack, PEOPLE, 13 Jan. 2026
Its sprawling dining hall brought in countless families, partiers, dates and football fans who wanted to banter over fries, salads and sandwiches and watch the world pass by on the other side of the glass.
—Miguel Otárola, Denver Post, 30 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for banter
Noun
What starts as banter may reveal opportunity.
—Tarot.com, The Orlando Sentinel, 12 May 2026
The conversation includes some light teasing about each other’s attachment styles — the intimate banter of close friends.
—Maddie Connors, Los Angeles Times, 4 May 2026
Verb
Siwa and Hughes playfully bantered about a potential engagement ahead of spending their first Christmas together.
—Erin Clack, PEOPLE, 13 Jan. 2026
Its sprawling dining hall brought in countless families, partiers, dates and football fans who wanted to banter over fries, salads and sandwiches and watch the world pass by on the other side of the glass.
—Miguel Otárola, Denver Post, 30 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for banter
Recent Examples of Synonyms for banter
Noun
-
Just ask Harris, whose handling of the border under Biden became a running joke in politics.—
Burgess Everett,
semafor.com,
14 May 2026
-
Now, if there’s some people telling these jokes at a church service, that would be one thing.—
Théoden Janes,
Charlotte Observer,
14 May 2026
Noun
-
The pitch-black vacuum of space laughs.—
Sophie Brookover,
Vulture,
22 May 2026
-
Just another unfunny piece of political propaganda devoid of any laughs whatsoever.—
Jon Root OutKick,
FOXNews.com,
22 May 2026
Noun
-
Left on their own, boisterous badinage between old school British thespian Shaw and giggly, hyper-ventilating wannabe movie star Dreyfuss has taken hold.—
Christopher Smith,
Oc Register,
10 Mar. 2026
-
The action flows, the badinage is fast and fun.—
Owen Gleiberman,
Variety,
28 Aug. 2025
Noun
-
Finally, in overcoming this vexing moment, the two would establish a painterly repartee that altered the trajectory of their own work and, by extension, modern art.—
Susan Tallman,
The New York Review of Books,
25 Apr. 2026
-
Lindsay-Abaire’s multidirectional repartee gets added zip from the first-rate cast, especially Margaret Colin as the unapologetically blunt Ruth.—
Sheldon Pearce,
New Yorker,
24 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
Hudson showed some subtle support for the jesting knocks to her boyfriend by reposting a clip of his final joke shared on Fox News' official X page.—
Zoey Lyttle,
PEOPLE,
18 May 2026
-
No matter what happened, Dunham could not seem to help posting through it, her public persona one of infinite jesting confession.—
Madeline Leung Coleman,
Vulture,
14 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
Blending adventure, humor and emotion, the series is squarely aimed at a wide family audience, the company added.—
Ed Meza,
Variety,
14 May 2026
-
This is a play that takes young people and their problems seriously, while incorporating occasional humor into the script and direction.—
Emily McClanathan,
Chicago Tribune,
14 May 2026
Noun
-
There is chatter that Otto at least attempted to die by suicide.—
Georg Szalai,
HollywoodReporter,
18 May 2026
-
So, yes, there likely will be chatter in that regard should the Cavaliers fall short with their current build.—
Ira Winderman,
Sun Sentinel,
17 May 2026
Noun
-
With time, their caustic raillery transforms into sincere attachment.—
Charlie Tyson,
The Atlantic,
13 May 2021
-
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
Cite this Entry
“Banter.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/banter. Accessed 23 May. 2026.
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