Thesaurus results for PERSIFLAGES

persiflage

noun

ˈpər-si-ˌfläzh

Definition of persiflage

as in joke

good-natured teasing or exchanging of clever remarks their tongue-in-cheek persiflage is sometimes mistaken for an exchange of insults by people who don't know them

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

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 persiflage None of this will keep Republicans and conservatives from attacking the reconciliation bill with smoke, mirrors and persiflage. — Michael Hiltzik, Los Angeles Times, 10 Aug. 2022

Recent Examples of Synonyms for persiflage

Noun

As Dave Chappelle takes backlash for a joke at Charlie Kirk‘s expense, the late Turning Point USA founder’s widow has responded.

— Glenn Garner, Deadline, 8 Nov. 2026
This all happened after years in which the President and the Vice-President have deployed racist epithets, jokes, and myths.

— David Remnick, New Yorker, 7 Nov. 2026

Definition of joke

Noun

With time, their caustic raillery transforms into sincere attachment.

— Charlie Tyson, The Atlantic, 13 May 2021
French’s evocation of place, a rural way of life and overall creepiness are superb, as is the dialogue, a festival of Irish raillery and repartee.

— Washington Post, Washington Post, 14 Oct. 2020

Definition of raillery

Noun

The speed and clarity with which Cruise delivers that monologue extends to his interactions with his co-stars in scenes that recall the whip-smart comedies of Preston Sturges in their fast badinage.

— Jim Hemphill, IndieWire, 30 Sep. 2026
Left on their own, boisterous badinage between old school British thespian Shaw and giggly, hyper-ventilating wannabe movie star Dreyfuss has taken hold.

— Christopher Smith, Oc Register, 10 Mar. 2026

Definition of badinage

Noun

With the mood set, our hosts, Stéphane Bern and Arianne Alcorta, both famous television personalities, kicked off the requisite jovial banter.

— Allen Farmelo, Robb Report, 8 Nov. 2026
Solomon bursts in later and changes the whole pace of the play from practical conversation to fun banter, then back to practicality.

— Christopher Arnott, Hartford Courant, 7 Nov. 2026

Definition of banter

Noun

At least Scrooge’s nephew Fred (Sam Claflin) has a decency that registers and his wife (Daisy Ridley) even manages one of the film’s genuine laughs.

— Amy Nicholson, Los Angeles Times, 13 Nov. 2026
Who wants a pregnant woman on (laughs) the cover of a magazine?

— McKinley Franklin, HollywoodReporter, 12 Nov. 2026

Definition of laugh

Noun

Hudson showed some subtle support for the jesting knocks to her boyfriend by reposting a clip of his final joke shared on Fox News' official X page.

— Zoey Lyttle, PEOPLE, 18 May 2026
No matter what happened, Dunham could not seem to help posting through it, her public persona one of infinite jesting confession.

— Madeline Leung Coleman, Vulture, 14 Apr. 2026

Definition of jesting

Noun

Coffee, briefcases, snappy repartee with a whiff of cynicism — where are Bradley Whitford and Allison Janney?

— Sara Holdren, Vulture, 30 Oct. 2026
One wonders if this repartee, which was wisely omitted from the script, rang in the ears of James Brolin, who reënacted the same scene, with a British accent and a touch of aplomb, for his screen test, in 1982.

— Anthony Lane, New Yorker, 26 Oct. 2026

Definition of repartee

Noun

Overland Park had a signage campaign over the summer that mixed humor with safety messages about e-scooters and e-bikes.

— Kendrick Calfee, Kansas City Star, 13 Nov. 2026
Morrison’s lusty humor brings the Oval Office temptations of his character fiendishly to life.

— Theater Critic, Los Angeles Times, 13 Nov. 2026

Definition of humor

Browse Nearby Words

Persian lambs

persiflage

persist

See all Nearby Words

Podcast

Cite this Entry

Style

“Persiflage.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/persiflage. Accessed 15 Nov. 2026.

Copy Citation

Synonyms of persiflage

noun

Example Sentences

Browse Nearby Words

Podcast

Cite this Entry

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

lissome

Popular in Grammar & Usage

How to Use 'Who' vs. 'Whom'

31 Useful Rhetorical Devices

More Commonly Misspelled Words

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

'Affect' vs. 'Effect'

Popular in Wordplay

Great Big List of Beautiful and Useless Words, Vol. 5

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

The Longest Long Words List

The Words of the Week - Nov. 13

Even More Bird Names that Sound Like Insults (and Sometimes Are)

Popular

How to Use 'Who' vs. 'Whom'

Great Big List of Beautiful and Useless Words, Vol. 5

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

Games & Quizzes