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
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Recent Examples of banter
Katie Rife, IndieWire, 4 Sep. 2025
Fans got a glimpse at the duo's to-wear-or-not-to-wear banter on Instagram when the Padma's All American author attempted to police her offspring's low-rise jeans by finding any solution to keep them hung on her hips.
—Michelle Lee, People.com, 1 Sep. 2025
Julie Hinds, Freep.com, 3 July 2025
Scaramucci, who has a near-photographic memory, banters easily with guests and hotel staff alike.
—Jeff John Roberts, Fortune, 2 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for banter
Noun
By comparison, his romantic rival Archie (Devon Bostick) is a weirdo, but a more believable one, and Bostick’s banter with Ferreira has a specific kind of romantic chemistry common to hyperintelligent, socially awkward nerds.
—Katie Rife, IndieWire, 4 Sep. 2025
Fans got a glimpse at the duo's to-wear-or-not-to-wear banter on Instagram when the Padma's All American author attempted to police her offspring's low-rise jeans by finding any solution to keep them hung on her hips.
—Michelle Lee, People.com, 1 Sep. 2025
Verb
In the movie, the two men punch, blast and banter their way through danger in Eastern Europe with the help of an MI6 agent played by Priyanka Chopra Jones.
—Julie Hinds, Freep.com, 3 July 2025
Scaramucci, who has a near-photographic memory, banters easily with guests and hotel staff alike.
—Jeff John Roberts, Fortune, 2 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for banter
Recent Examples of Synonyms for banter
Noun
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Related Stories Farrelly thinks that kind of oppressive political correctness is fading and that audiences are eager to see movies that eviscerate good taste in order to land a joke again.—
Brent Lang,
Variety,
5 Sep. 2025
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What started as a joke soon turned into a tourism draw that put Lajitas on the map.—
Tiffani Jackson,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
5 Sep. 2025
Noun
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However, if you're pressed for time, check out the shorts Mike's New Car (2001) and Party Central (2014) for some quick laughs.—
Sydni Ellis,
PEOPLE,
7 Sep. 2025
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Her voice has been sharp, sometimes saucy, and could be silken — then let out a bell-ringing laugh.—
Scott Simon,
NPR,
6 Sep. 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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But mainly the kids banter in pig Latin or in a screwball repartee fashioned from overheard adult speech.—
Dan Chiasson,
New Yorker,
4 Aug. 2025
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Balki and cousin Larry slipped right into their old repartee from the beloved ABC sitcom.—
Ryan Coleman Published,
EW.com,
14 July 2025
Noun
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There are scenes of strange, often violent pathos that punctuate the potty humor and punch-throwing.—
Derek Robertson,
The Washington Examiner,
5 Sep. 2025
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Ken is a more marginal figure by design, though his British cringe humor never stops feeling somewhat at odds with the show’s small-city, Midwest setting.—
Jesse Hassenger,
Vulture,
5 Sep. 2025
Noun
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Two types of story dominated the chatter in the newsroom this week.—
Leonie Kidd,
CNBC,
7 Sep. 2025
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Read the Room While everyone’s all for friendly chatter before the game or between plays, once the ball’s in the air, many folks will want to focus all attention on what’s happening on screen.—
Betsy Cribb Watson,
Southern Living,
6 Sep. 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
Noun
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None of this will keep Republicans and conservatives from attacking the reconciliation bill with smoke, mirrors and persiflage.—
Michael Hiltzik,
Los Angeles Times,
10 Aug. 2022
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As Nixon’s political strategist, Kevin Phillips, told the New York Times in 1970: All the talk about Republicans making inroads into the Negro vote is persiflage.—
Jane Coaston,
Vox,
12 Oct. 2018
Cite this Entry
“Banter.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/banter. Accessed 11 Sep. 2025.
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