as in jokes
something said or done to cause laughter
the senator deftly inserted some smart one-liners into an otherwise sober speech
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Recent Examples of one-liners
Readers don’t fall in love with witty one-liners or mic-drop monologues.
—
Jd Barker, Rolling Stone, 9 Feb. 2026
However, to see a Black man speak out unapologetically — Foxx's tendency to freestyle and deliver iconic one-liners brought levity to the proceedings — is part of what made Sanford and Son a hit.
—Starr Rocque, PEOPLE, 3 Feb. 2026
As wayward posh actress Moira Rose, O’Hara’s one-liners were meme gold and earned her critical praise.
—Dan Heching, CNN Money, 30 Jan. 2026
These performances, which include plenty of great one-liners and physical gags but also unearth subtler shades of frustration and self-doubt, are some of my favorites of hers.
—Judy Berman, Time, 30 Jan. 2026
And no more cheap one-liners from me.
—Ryan Canfield, FOXNews.com, 27 Jan. 2026
At home alone and dressed only in a lavalava (traditional wrap skirt), Jonny manages to guzzle down a beer and crack zingy one-liners while dispatching a quartet of Yakuza goons who’ve come looking for a package sent to him by his father, Walter (Brian Keaulana).
—Richard Kuipers, Variety, 26 Jan. 2026
Some films linger in our minds because of their sharp plots, quotable one-liners and unforgettable characters.
—Kailyn Brown, Los Angeles Times, 23 Jan. 2026
But some of her most brutal one-liners came at the expense of the cast of Paul Thomas Anderson's celebrated One Battle After Another.
—Ryan Coleman, Entertainment Weekly, 12 Jan. 2026
Jd Barker, Rolling Stone, 9 Feb. 2026
However, to see a Black man speak out unapologetically — Foxx's tendency to freestyle and deliver iconic one-liners brought levity to the proceedings — is part of what made Sanford and Son a hit.
—Starr Rocque, PEOPLE, 3 Feb. 2026
As wayward posh actress Moira Rose, O’Hara’s one-liners were meme gold and earned her critical praise.
—Dan Heching, CNN Money, 30 Jan. 2026
These performances, which include plenty of great one-liners and physical gags but also unearth subtler shades of frustration and self-doubt, are some of my favorites of hers.
—Judy Berman, Time, 30 Jan. 2026
And no more cheap one-liners from me.
—Ryan Canfield, FOXNews.com, 27 Jan. 2026
At home alone and dressed only in a lavalava (traditional wrap skirt), Jonny manages to guzzle down a beer and crack zingy one-liners while dispatching a quartet of Yakuza goons who’ve come looking for a package sent to him by his father, Walter (Brian Keaulana).
—Richard Kuipers, Variety, 26 Jan. 2026
Some films linger in our minds because of their sharp plots, quotable one-liners and unforgettable characters.
—Kailyn Brown, Los Angeles Times, 23 Jan. 2026
But some of her most brutal one-liners came at the expense of the cast of Paul Thomas Anderson's celebrated One Battle After Another.
—Ryan Coleman, Entertainment Weekly, 12 Jan. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for one-liners
Noun
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Pranks have turned into memes and other visual online jokes that barely involve active communication.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
17 Feb. 2026
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But Morgan isn’t one to spoil any specific jokes or Easter eggs.—
Patrick Ryan,
USA Today,
16 Feb. 2026
Noun
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Celebrity Keegan-Michael Key laughs with teammates during the all-star celebrity game at the Kia Forum in Inglewood on Friday.—
Ronaldo Bolaños,
Los Angeles Times,
15 Feb. 2026
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After a few weeks of laughs and tunes featuring some of your favorite celebs, the late-night sketch comedy and variety show has taken some time off.—
Amaris Encinas,
USA Today,
14 Feb. 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 19 Feb. 2026.
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