1
as in courtesies
an act or utterance that is a customary show of good manners
"how are you" is merely a social pleasantry
Synonyms & Similar Words
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2
as in jokes
something said or done to cause laughter
his after-dinner speeches usually include the sort of gentle pleasantry that raises a chuckle
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of pleasantries
The two caught up briefly prior to tipoff, sharing an embrace and exchanging a few pleasantries before White had to get back to his pregame preparations.
—
Roderick Boone, Charlotte Observer, 28 Feb. 2026
Meanwhile, over years of random, closeted and compulsive encounters, Shane and Ilya barely exchange pleasantries during their hot, impersonal hookups, even calling each other by their last names — half bros, half hos.
—David Colman, HollywoodReporter, 23 Feb. 2026
Accomplish any tasks that are genuinely necessary, but leave room for pleasantries and small talk too.
—Tarot.com, Baltimore Sun, 18 Feb. 2026
While reporters were present, the two leaders only exchanged pleasantries.
—Michelle L. Price, Arkansas Online, 7 Feb. 2026
While where reporters were present, the two leaders only exchanged pleasantries.
—Michelle L. Price, Chicago Tribune, 6 Feb. 2026
Once onstage, Stallone traded a few pleasantries with the mayor, Melendrez and the crowd.
—René Guzman, San Antonio Express-News, 4 Feb. 2026
The Fire Dogs and Law Hogs were united as one before kickoff, shaking hands and exchanging pleasantries.
—Joe Davidson, Sacbee.com, 1 Feb. 2026
Usha Vance, the nation's second lady and wife of Vice President JD Vance, has spent her family's first year in office familiarizing herself with the pitfalls and pleasantries of public service.
—Jay Stahl, USA Today, 20 Jan. 2026
Roderick Boone, Charlotte Observer, 28 Feb. 2026
Meanwhile, over years of random, closeted and compulsive encounters, Shane and Ilya barely exchange pleasantries during their hot, impersonal hookups, even calling each other by their last names — half bros, half hos.
—David Colman, HollywoodReporter, 23 Feb. 2026
Accomplish any tasks that are genuinely necessary, but leave room for pleasantries and small talk too.
—Tarot.com, Baltimore Sun, 18 Feb. 2026
While reporters were present, the two leaders only exchanged pleasantries.
—Michelle L. Price, Arkansas Online, 7 Feb. 2026
While where reporters were present, the two leaders only exchanged pleasantries.
—Michelle L. Price, Chicago Tribune, 6 Feb. 2026
Once onstage, Stallone traded a few pleasantries with the mayor, Melendrez and the crowd.
—René Guzman, San Antonio Express-News, 4 Feb. 2026
The Fire Dogs and Law Hogs were united as one before kickoff, shaking hands and exchanging pleasantries.
—Joe Davidson, Sacbee.com, 1 Feb. 2026
Usha Vance, the nation's second lady and wife of Vice President JD Vance, has spent her family's first year in office familiarizing herself with the pitfalls and pleasantries of public service.
—Jay Stahl, USA Today, 20 Jan. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for pleasantries
Noun
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With both courtesies and catastrophes refusing to conform, the canton’s school board, publishers, and clergy were forced to produce multiple editions of primers, textbooks, and catechisms; sometimes five parallel print runs were needed for a population the size of a town.—
Simon Akam,
New Yorker,
1 Dec. 2025
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Leonora measures out her days in courtesies and slights, the former dominating the beginning of the book, the latter rapidly gaining ground.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
15 Sep. 2025
Noun
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Weekend Update The Weekend Updates desk jokes are fine to good, especially considering some of them were rewritten under duress.—
Rima Parikh,
Vulture,
1 Mar. 2026
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Cole framed his opening monologue like a prayer, with jokes about Teyana Taylor’s relationship status, 50 Cent’s pettiness and Nicki Minaj’s politics.—
Angelique Jackson,
Variety,
1 Mar. 2026
Noun
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No stage director was listed in the program, but with singers on a stage extension in front of the orchestra, a few subtle gestures lent striking effects.—
Scott Cantrell,
Dallas Morning News,
3 Mar. 2026
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Housekeepers from top hotels shared the small gestures guests can make to help cleaning services be more efficient.—
Iona Brannon,
Travel + Leisure,
3 Mar. 2026
Noun
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Strangely, Bailey-Brown laughs at the accusation.—
Barry Levitt,
Time,
4 Mar. 2026
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Vinny will bring the laughs, as the TV personality turned stand-up comedian goes on tour and organizes a celebratory roast for his castmates.—
Edward Segarra,
USA Today,
4 Mar. 2026
Noun
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Barry Diller was full of wisecracks tonight at the PGA Awards.—
Anthony D'Alessandro,
Deadline,
28 Feb. 2026
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Chock-full of laugh-out-loud quips and wisecracks, Susan Sarandon, Christine Baranski and Cheryl Hines also join in on the fun in the boisterous 2017 sequel to the 2016 original Bad Moms.—
Lydia Price,
PEOPLE,
23 Dec. 2025
Noun
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After an hour or so, Sarah’s girls bounce into the frame with giggles and cuddles and climb up on her.—
Gerald Witt,
AJC.com,
1 Mar. 2026
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Mulvaney’s penchant for girlish giggles and squeals between bites of her spaghetti pomodoro stand out in Arno, especially when juxtaposed against the sea of older gentlemen in an assortment of ill-fitting grey blazers sitting behind her at the bar.—
Chris Murphy,
Vanity Fair,
18 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
“Pleasantries.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/pleasantries. Accessed 9 Mar. 2026.
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