as in joke
something said or done to cause laughter
the senator deftly inserted some smart one-liners into an otherwise sober speech
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of one-liner
The best reality shows—every Bravo franchise, The Kardashians, Dance Moms—are anthropological studies with campy one-liners, life blown up to exaggerated proportions.
—
Daisy Jones, Vogue, 2 May 2026
And to those who will be there, the opportunity to see the closest people in Hart’s life (at least the famous ones) bombard him with savage one-liners and embarrassing stories is definitely a must-see.
—Los Angeles Times, 29 Apr. 2026
The plot is just a format for ceaseless one-liners, sight gags and cartoonish characters.
—Christopher Arnott, Hartford Courant, 28 Apr. 2026
Played with blistering sarcasm by Emily Blunt, the high-strung Runway magazine assistant had many of the most crackling one-liners in the original 2006 film.
—Patrick Ryan, USA Today, 28 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for one-liner
Daisy Jones, Vogue, 2 May 2026
And to those who will be there, the opportunity to see the closest people in Hart’s life (at least the famous ones) bombard him with savage one-liners and embarrassing stories is definitely a must-see.
—Los Angeles Times, 29 Apr. 2026
The plot is just a format for ceaseless one-liners, sight gags and cartoonish characters.
—Christopher Arnott, Hartford Courant, 28 Apr. 2026
Played with blistering sarcasm by Emily Blunt, the high-strung Runway magazine assistant had many of the most crackling one-liners in the original 2006 film.
—Patrick Ryan, USA Today, 28 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for one-liner
Recent Examples of Synonyms for one-liner
Noun
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Just ask Harris, whose handling of the border under Biden became a running joke in politics.—
Burgess Everett,
semafor.com,
14 May 2026
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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
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The pitch-black vacuum of space laughs.—
Sophie Brookover,
Vulture,
22 May 2026
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Just another unfunny piece of political propaganda devoid of any laughs whatsoever.—
Jon Root OutKick,
FOXNews.com,
22 May 2026
Noun
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Despite that underlying tension, kids play on the street outside while the large family has a dynamic like any other — noisily squabbling, joking, or in the case of the matriarchal grandmother, Mariam (Hiam Abbass), preparing a meal in a kitchen plagued by constant utility outages.—
David Rooney,
HollywoodReporter,
15 May 2026
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The president has long bristled at the otherwise customary joking at his expense by celebrity comedians.—
Dennis Romero,
NBC news,
28 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“One-liner.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/one-liner. Accessed 23 May. 2026.
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