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
Humor is a surprisingly important aspect of parenting, and that silly one-liner may help strengthen the bond between fathers and children.
—
Lindsey Bever,
Washington Post,
15 June 2026
The clip begins with a round up of short one-liners from the Housewives.
—
Yamillah Hurtado,
PEOPLE,
12 June 2026
The one-liners, which Foxworthy began cracking in the late 1980s, helped propel the comedian to mainstream stardom in the 90s.
—
Ralphie Aversa,
USA Today,
6 June 2026
Some particularly outrageous one-liners about race snuck into the film’s final cut, although much of its dicier material comes off as weirdly effortful instead of provocative or reckless.
—
Alison Foreman,
IndieWire,
4 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for one-liner
Lindsey Bever,
Washington Post,
15 June 2026
The clip begins with a round up of short one-liners from the Housewives.
—
Yamillah Hurtado,
PEOPLE,
12 June 2026
The one-liners, which Foxworthy began cracking in the late 1980s, helped propel the comedian to mainstream stardom in the 90s.
—
Ralphie Aversa,
USA Today,
6 June 2026
Some particularly outrageous one-liners about race snuck into the film’s final cut, although much of its dicier material comes off as weirdly effortful instead of provocative or reckless.
—
Alison Foreman,
IndieWire,
4 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for one-liner
Recent Examples of Synonyms for one-liner
Noun
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New Delhi — What started as an online joke has now spilled onto the streets of India’s capital.
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Jan Paul van Hecke, a center-back who saw action on all parts of the pitch by both defending and scoring a goal, praised how the field held up — while also making a joke.
Noun
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Steele’s portrayal of imperious, glamorous Tanya provides some of the show’s biggest laughs.
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What makes this such an exhilarating watch is how the performers navigate every passive-aggressive aside, every catty comment, every choice bit of annoying behavior played for laughs, pathos, or both at once.
Noun
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Oh, but the Padres manager was ready with the joking last night.
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Still, Yoon’s joking somehow lightens the mood.
Cite this Entry
“One-liner.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/one-liner. Accessed 29 Jun. 2026.
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