as in jokes
something said or done to cause laughter
the senator deftly inserted some smart one-liners into an otherwise sober speech
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Recent Examples of one-liners
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
His one-liners were truly not to be believed.
—Dave Quinn, PEOPLE, 3 May 2026
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
For all the one-liners, Belt dedicated part of his speech to his late father, Darrell, who died last July.
—Justice Delos Santos, Mercury News, 26 Apr. 2026
There was always a comedian on somebody’s album doing a skit or some funny one-liners or in the video acting a fool.
—Preezy Brown, VIBE.com, 16 Apr. 2026
Rachel Syme, New Yorker, 4 May 2026
His one-liners were truly not to be believed.
—Dave Quinn, PEOPLE, 3 May 2026
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
For all the one-liners, Belt dedicated part of his speech to his late father, Darrell, who died last July.
—Justice Delos Santos, Mercury News, 26 Apr. 2026
There was always a comedian on somebody’s album doing a skit or some funny one-liners or in the video acting a fool.
—Preezy Brown, VIBE.com, 16 Apr. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for one-liners
Noun
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Martin gets some jokes about it, more from older generations than teammates or opponents.—
Steve Millar,
Chicago Tribune,
5 May 2026
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Commenters respond to the post As always, commenters were quick to jump on the opportunity to make jokes – in this case, about Kennedy's storied past with animals, especially of the wild persuasion.—
Mary Walrath-Holdridge,
USA Today,
4 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 initial experience of Shakespeare’s meter leads to a world of discovery of a man who quite literally changed the world with witticisms and insight and has shaped every corner of humanity since the 16th century.—
David John Chávez,
Mercury News,
4 Feb. 2026
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During Bloomberg’s pursuit of office, a 1990 booklet in which business colleagues had compiled his witticisms surfaced.—
Molly Fischer,
New Yorker,
1 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“One-liners.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/one-liners. Accessed 11 May. 2026.
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