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 rugged warrior is a no-nonsense drifter who fires off more laser bolts than one-liners and looks out for the adorable Grogu, aka Baby Yoda.
—
Jordan Moreau, Variety, 24 May 2026
For more than five decades, Saturday Night Live has turned absurd one-liners and unforgettable characters into comedy gold that lives rent-free in pop culture history.
—Julia Moore, PEOPLE, 9 May 2026
Decades later, a new generation is discovering her character and flooding social media with clips of her most cutting one-liners.
—Michelle Duncan, Architectural Digest, 8 May 2026
In the end, the reporter came to the conclusion that the one-liners were Monroe’s own, a judgment backed up by an anonymous Fox press agent who had been one of the main liaisons between Monroe and the studio.
—Rachel Syme, New Yorker, 4 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for one-liner
Jordan Moreau, Variety, 24 May 2026
For more than five decades, Saturday Night Live has turned absurd one-liners and unforgettable characters into comedy gold that lives rent-free in pop culture history.
—Julia Moore, PEOPLE, 9 May 2026
Decades later, a new generation is discovering her character and flooding social media with clips of her most cutting one-liners.
—Michelle Duncan, Architectural Digest, 8 May 2026
In the end, the reporter came to the conclusion that the one-liners were Monroe’s own, a judgment backed up by an anonymous Fox press agent who had been one of the main liaisons between Monroe and the studio.
—Rachel Syme, New Yorker, 4 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for one-liner
Recent Examples of Synonyms for one-liner
Noun
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And yet, Chisholm’s chat with Fallon sparked some jokes and blowback after the host asked the colorful character what the Yankees’ ultimate goal is this season.—
Gary Phillips,
New York Daily News,
4 June 2026
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The majority of the jokes come off as more asserted than delighted.—
Owen Gleiberman,
Variety,
4 June 2026
Noun
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The quest to find the better joke, the stronger laugh—that’s reason enough to keep on living.—
Michael Schulman,
New Yorker,
29 May 2026
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These people had huge laughs Thursday morning over their airport Bloody Marys after realizing their words were treated as if serious.—
Joe Rexrode,
New York Times,
29 May 2026
Noun
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Sometimes a playful comment, an unexpected reply or a joking callout between brands takes on a life of its own online.—
Expert Panel®,
Forbes.com,
20 May 2026
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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
Cite this Entry
“One-liner.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/one-liner. Accessed 8 Jun. 2026.
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