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

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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

Since then, the program has cemented itself as one of the best studio shows on cable despite mostly sidestepping game analysis in favor of alchemized banter. — Winston Cho, HollywoodReporter, 4 Sep. 2026 What recordings can’t prepare you for is her gift for stage banter. — Théoden Janes, Charlotte Observer, 2 Sep. 2026

Verb

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 During their flirty joint appearance, the couple bantered about sports, celebrating Swift owning her masters, and announced her album The Life of a Showgirl. — Elizabeth Gulino, InStyle, 2 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for banter

Recent Examples of Synonyms for banter

Noun

That’s one of the wobbliest of the timeline-hopping jokes in the show.

— Jackson McHenry, Vulture, 5 Oct. 2026
Painfully aware of this, Shawn waited for one of the drunk old men to comment, heckle, make one of those incomprehensible jokes that drew rude laughter from adults.

— Rachel Heng, New Yorker, 4 Oct. 2026

Definition of joke

Noun

This autumn, there are plenty of comedians rounding the country, all primed to provide you with boundless laughs.

— Justin Klawans, TheWeek, 1 Oct. 2026
This laugh-out-loud picture book will delight young readers (and anyone else who’d like several hundred puppies).

— Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 1 Oct. 2026

Definition of laugh

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

Her popular partner is Coyotec — an artificial intelligence bot programmed to mimic a radio repartee.

— Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 2 Oct. 2026
His dialogue in particular serves as a distinctive through line, with pages of repartee in an off-kilter, slightly formal register flowing through all of his novels.

— Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 1 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

Fresh Air critic John Powers describes it as a unique blend of creepiness, sarcastic humor and political anger, unlike anything else on TV.

— Brittney Melton, NPR, 2 Oct. 2026
Inextricable to Long’s art, though, is a self-awareness and acerbic wit that elevates the narrative and reminds us that humor is integral to survival, too.

— Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 2 Oct. 2026

Definition of humor

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

Definition of raillery

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“Banter.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/banter. Accessed 7 Oct. 2026.

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Synonyms of banter

noun

verb

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