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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Their purpose was partly decorative and partly protective, but the visual joke became unavoidable.—
Peter Lyon,
Forbes.com,
18 June 2026
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The fierce woman who always wore black, who could light up a room with her sly jokes and smoky laughter, grew quieter and more fragile after losing her lover.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
18 June 2026
Noun
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The fallout of that inquiry—to which Joe and Angela gamely acquiesce—generates its share of laughs, though our amusement comes at a cost.—
Justin Chang,
New Yorker,
19 June 2026
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There are definitely laughs in Maddie’s Secret, but the point of the movie is almost to get beyond them, to the place where naive hokum could yield moments of inexplicable resonance.—
Alison Willmore,
Vulture,
19 June 2026
Noun
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Still, Yoon’s joking somehow lightens the mood.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
11 June 2026
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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
Cite this Entry
“One-liner.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/one-liner. Accessed 23 Jun. 2026.
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