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
Georg Szalai, HollywoodReporter, 23 Dec. 2025
SummerFest composer-in-residence and violinist Jessie Montgomery created an intimate atmosphere with her congenial banter and the spirited playing of her intriguing works.
—Beth Wood, San Diego Union-Tribune, 21 Dec. 2025
Jaures Yip,kif Leswing,annie Palmer,jonathan Vanian, CNBC, 22 Nov. 2025
In one March 2019 exchange, the pair appeared to banter about a woman that Summers knew in London, with Epstein seeming to offer advice to the Harvard professor.
—November 18, CBS News, 18 Nov. 2025
See All Example Sentences for banter
Noun
So, audiences have mystery, banter, and a lot of twists to look forward to in season 2 of Red Eye.
—Georg Szalai, HollywoodReporter, 23 Dec. 2025
SummerFest composer-in-residence and violinist Jessie Montgomery created an intimate atmosphere with her congenial banter and the spirited playing of her intriguing works.
—Beth Wood, San Diego Union-Tribune, 21 Dec. 2025
Verb
Davidson then casually banters back and forth with Alexa about his preferred nickname.
—Jaures Yip,kif Leswing,annie Palmer,jonathan Vanian, CNBC, 22 Nov. 2025
In one March 2019 exchange, the pair appeared to banter about a woman that Summers knew in London, with Epstein seeming to offer advice to the Harvard professor.
—November 18, CBS News, 18 Nov. 2025
See All Example Sentences for banter
Recent Examples of Synonyms for banter
Noun
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If that means being the frequent butt of jokes for his age, that's fine, too.—
CBS News,
CBS News,
10 Jan. 2026
-
Try to ski with a friend, who might distract me with a story or a joke.—
Frederick Dreier,
Outside,
9 Jan. 2026
Noun
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The Spartans got the last laugh for now, too, taking both games.—
Scott Wheeler,
New York Times,
9 Nov. 2025
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Katz said, feigning familiarity with the leader’s influence and drawing laughs from the audience.—
Dave Smith,
Fortune,
8 Nov. 2025
Noun
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The action flows, the badinage is fast and fun.—
Owen Gleiberman,
Variety,
28 Aug. 2025
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Each bus has a pair of hosts, whose badinage is corny but crowd-pleasing.—
Patricia Marx,
New Yorker,
5 May 2025
Noun
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Brooks’s years honing his craft writing prickly characters and witty repartee ensures that not all of this scans as mindless escapism.—
Vikram Murthi,
IndieWire,
10 Dec. 2025
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The repartee arrived ahead of the reunion’s kiss-off date in Brazil this weekend.—
Kory Grow,
Rolling Stone,
20 Nov. 2025
Noun
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Language There’s some crude language, jesting, and mature comedic themes, but but nothing the modern tween or teen hasn’t seen or heard before.—
Lynnette Nicholas,
Parents,
8 Dec. 2025
Noun
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Over two decades after the original, the cast reunited with enthusiasm, celebrating the humor and heart that made the film resonate for generations.—
Tereza Shkurtaj,
PEOPLE,
10 Jan. 2026
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These songs smartly aim much higher than mere shock value, and that makes the humor all the deeper.—
Matthew J. Palm,
The Orlando Sentinel,
10 Jan. 2026
Noun
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Famed for launching Downton Abbey, the network has been courting sale interest for well over a year, but for all the industry chatter and press speculation, ITV’s silence has been stony.—
Max Goldbart,
Deadline,
8 Nov. 2025
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In the case of Copeland, has noted that his name has not even been brought up within WWE, even with the online chatter.—
Andrew Ravens,
MSNBC Newsweek,
8 Nov. 2025
Noun
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With time, their caustic raillery transforms into sincere attachment.—
Charlie Tyson,
The Atlantic,
13 May 2021
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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 12 Jan. 2026.
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