Thesaurus results for BANTER

banter 1 of 2

noun

Definition of banter

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

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banter

2 of 2

verb

ˈban-tər

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 show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Recent Examples of banter

Noun

Frank’s voice warms up as the show goes on and the banter during and between songs is a riot. — Liza Lentini, SPIN, 16 Oct. 2026 The director, Sanchez, deftly leads the effort with invisible but subtly effective staging, ensuring that the family banter propels the flow. — Bill Hirschman, Sun Sentinel, 13 Oct. 2026

Verb

Throughout the night, the two parties bantered and traded good-natured remarks. — Jordan Bianchi, New York Times, 15 Sep. 2026 Meanwhile, Johnson reprises his role as Moana's bantering reluctant partner, the shapeshifting trickster demigod Maui, alongside Jemaine Clement again voicing the conceited giant crustacean Tamatoa. — Brian Truitt, USA Today, 9 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for banter

Recent Examples of Synonyms for banter

Noun

The chain, which has over 200 locations in the United States, was recently caught in a culture war against its will, sparked by a joke from former President Barack Obama on its aesthetic.

— Ramishah Maruf, CNN Money, 1 Nov. 2026
Later on during Weekend Update, Michael Che made a joke about Israel that made Jost jokingly grimace.

— Marlow Stern, Variety, 1 Nov. 2026

Definition of joke

Noun

The speed and clarity with which Cruise delivers that monologue extends to his interactions with his co-stars in scenes that recall the whip-smart comedies of Preston Sturges in their fast badinage.

— Jim Hemphill, IndieWire, 30 Sep. 2026
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

Definition of badinage

Noun

Coffee, briefcases, snappy repartee with a whiff of cynicism — where are Bradley Whitford and Allison Janney?

— Sara Holdren, Vulture, 30 Oct. 2026
One wonders if this repartee, which was wisely omitted from the script, rang in the ears of James Brolin, who reënacted the same scene, with a British accent and a touch of aplomb, for his screen test, in 1982.

— Anthony Lane, New Yorker, 26 Oct. 2026

Definition of repartee

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

Definition of jesting

Noun

Now, Gomez finds humor in the video and even some pride in how unapologetically endearing her teenage self was.

— Alejandra Gularte, Vulture, 30 Oct. 2026
Their performances — at London’s West End in 2009 and on New York’s Broadway in 2013-14 — were praised for their humor and comedy.

— Marlene Lenthang, NBC news, 30 Oct. 2026

Definition of humor

Noun

The $120 whole chicken sparked plenty of online chatter, though the $65 half-chicken is substantial enough for a party of four.

— Jenn Harris, Los Angeles Times, 29 Oct. 2026
There has been chatter about teams tanking to avoid being elevated to the Open Division.

— Chris Hays, The Orlando Sentinel, 29 Oct. 2026

Definition of chatter

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