PALAVER Synonyms: 137 Similar and Opposite Words

palaver 1 of 2

noun

pə-ˈla-vər

Definition of palaver

as in discussion

an exchange of views for the purpose of exploring a subject or deciding an issue seemingly endless palaver between the negotiating parties

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

as in chatter

friendly, informal conversation or an instance of this we should get together and have a nice palaver sometime

Synonyms & Similar Words

palaver

2 of 2

verb

as in to chat

to engage in casual or rambling conversation mothers palavering and drinking coffee while watching their children play

Synonyms & Similar Words

as in to coax

to get (someone) to do something by gentle urging, special attention, or flattery I let the salesclerk at the electronics store palaver me into a service contract that I didn't need

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Recent Examples of palaver

Noun

All the palaver over a new stadium, though, can be shelved until the Bears’ season is officially over. — Charles Selle, Chicago Tribune, 14 Jan. 2026 The central feature is a mass-timber column that branches into ceiling ribs, an indoor urban form of the palaver tree where villagers in West Africa gather to resolve conflicts. — Justin Davidson, Curbed, 5 May 2025

Verb

On the one hand, Hrabal’s palavering bears a direct relation to reality. — Becca Rothfeld, The New Yorker, 19 Nov. 2019 See All Example Sentences for palaver

Recent Examples of Synonyms for palaver

Noun

Walking in on them during an intimate discussion only seems to confirm it.

— Ben Rosenstock, Vulture, 28 Aug. 2026
Sullivan spoke with attorneys at sidebar about the request, but the discussion was inaudible to observers in the courtroom at Plymouth Superior Court.

— Melina Khan, USA Today, 28 Aug. 2026

Definition of discussion

Noun

That was Gardner’s first game with the Colts after being acquired from the New York Jets, and while Indy pulled out the OT victory, Gardner was still annoyed by some of the social media chatter afterward.

— James Boyd, New York Times, 21 Aug. 2026
For all the chatter about the Georgia wide receiver position this month, Kirby Smart notes that success for that group can’t be self-made.

— Connor Riley, AJC.com, 20 Aug. 2026

Definition of chatter

Verb

Arsenal want to do that in a range of ways — in personnel, stylistic development, and by coaxing more from their current group.

— Amy Lawrence, New York Times, 22 Aug. 2026
Last year, Ian Stamy took the state prize for his bumper soybean yield, coaxing an average of just over 100 bushels per acre from his operation in central Pennsylvania.

— Scott Neuman, NPR, 20 Aug. 2026

Definition of coax

Noun

Thomas Mach Interiors, of Simsbury, painted the interior and donated a consultation and project management services at the school.

— Sean Krofssik, Hartford Courant, 28 Aug. 2026
Family life Harald dated Sonja Haraldsen for nine years before King Olav V, after consultation with the Norwegian Parliament, gave permission for the couple to marry.

— James Frater, CNN Money, 28 Aug. 2026

Definition of consultation

Noun

Havard declined to comment on reports that Jimmy Carr is being lined up as the motoring show’s new host, but Deadline hears talks are underway with the comedian.

— Jake Kanter, Deadline, 27 Aug. 2026
Deal talks began after Hugging Face, an open-source AI platform developers use to collaborate, test and share tools, received acquisition interest from another suitor, according to The Information.

— April Roach, CNBC, 27 Aug. 2026

Definition of talk

Verb

Researchers have built ArabCulture-Dialogue, the first benchmark for testing whether leading AI models can understand and converse in Modern Standard Arabic and 13 national dialects.

— Melissa Hancock, Fortune, 19 Aug. 2026
Hemingway commended Salinger, then a twenty-five-year-old staff sergeant, on his short stories, and the two conversed for hours.

— Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 10 Aug. 2026

Definition of converse

Noun

While the referendum debate has almost entirely centered on the economy – for example, the potential impact of joining the Eurozone and changing fishing policy – the vote is not happening in a vacuum.

— Lauren Kent, CNN Money, 28 Aug. 2026
Their debates can get heated, but Gray, who describes himself as a conflict-averse person in a high-conflict business, says the criticism should never be personal.

— Andrew Edgecliffe-Johnson, semafor.com, 28 Aug. 2026

Definition of debate

Browse Nearby Words

palatines

palaver

palavered

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Style

“Palaver.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/palaver. Accessed 29 Aug. 2026.

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Synonyms of palaver

noun

verb

Example Sentences

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