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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There are moments when Lily feels lost and anxious, and another scene where a panicked sheep knocks over furniture, although that is played for laughs.—
Patrick Ryan,
USA Today,
8 May 2026
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Even Gawker’s star investigative reporter Adrian Chen, whose exposé of the dark web marketplace Silk Road was a huge scoop, could generate laughs.—
Frank DiGiacomo,
HollywoodReporter,
8 May 2026
Noun
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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
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Here opposites — classy and brassy — are distractions, with odd-couple joking substituting for something more substantial.—
Frank Rizzo,
Variety,
23 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“One-liner.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/one-liner. Accessed 16 May. 2026.
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