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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Despite all of the excellent jokes, ultimately Night Night Fawn can be nothing other than a tragedy.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
11 June 2026
-
In casual conversation, it’s treated as a biological footnote, something between a quirk and a joke.—
Scott Travers,
Forbes.com,
11 June 2026
Noun
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Guiterrez was killed just days before her 20th birthday and was described on GoFundMe by her sister as having the silliest laugh and biggest smiles, and giving the best hugs.—
Clara Harter,
Los Angeles Times,
12 June 2026
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Often, the laughs on the show are generated by a delicate interplay between the music and the sound design.—
Jim Hemphill,
IndieWire,
12 June 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 13 Jun. 2026.
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