Thesaurus results for PLEASANTRIES

pleasantries

noun

plural of pleasantry

as in courtesies

an act or utterance that is a customary show of good manners "how are you" is merely a social pleasantry

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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

Synonyms & Similar Words

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 pleasantries The Dallas Cowboys welcomed in the New Orleans Saints on Tuesday afternoon for a joint practice at their summer home in Southern California, but the pleasantries did not last long. — Nick Harris, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 19 Aug. 2026 After some pleasantries, Lathan and Ahlman usually kick off the discussion, throwing out ideas that the rest of the hosts will debate. — Daniel Strauss, Vanity Fair, 10 Aug. 2026 Starting pitcher Tarik Skubal, acquired by the Dodgers in a trade with the Detroit Tigers on Saturday, was in the Dodgers’ dugout during the game, exchanging pleasantries with his new teammates and coaches. — Joaquin Ruiz, Los Angeles Times, 3 Aug. 2026 Etna is a sociable fellow, but his conversations with other animals never indulge in pleasantries. — Rachel Vorona Cote, The Atlantic, 30 July 2026 The courtroom pleasantries represented a dramatic comedown for a strongman who once ruled Venezuela from a fortified presidential compound. — Kaelan Deese, The Washington Examiner, 22 July 2026 Meanwhile, a terse obituary for Steadman avoided any pleasantries. — Sean Neumann, PEOPLE, 1 July 2026 Mariano said of a scene in the first episode, in which newcomers made out with contestants immediately upon entering the villa without exchanging pleasantries. — Kimi Robinson, USA Today, 26 June 2026 The Reynas and Berhalters, who grew up together and were in each other’s weddings, still might not be exchanging pleasantries or Christmas cards. — Mark Zeigler, San Diego Union-Tribune, 23 June 2026

Recent Examples of Synonyms for pleasantries

Noun

Small courtesies keep big efforts moving forward.

— Tarot.com, New York Daily News, 15 Mar. 2026
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

Definition of courtesies

Noun

Television’s rise forced it to reinvent itself by introducing live disc jockeys who played music and told jokes.

— Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 2 Oct. 2026
As a teenager, Davidson would sit in the back of the bus and write jokes on his way to and from basketball games and try them on his teammates.

— Marlow Stern, Variety, 30 Sep. 2026

Definition of jokes

Noun

But, having offered these initial glimpses, Haghighi’s camera gets to work, macrophotographically zeroing in on small groups and on individual faces and gestures.

— Richard Brody, New Yorker, 25 Sep. 2026
The glasses can also function as a gaming console, Meta said, and there will be more than 75 games at launch that users can play solely with hand gestures.

— Kaitlyn Huamani, Chicago Tribune, 24 Sep. 2026

Definition of gestures

Noun

According to the rules of the game, Joker can only give his team members hints while the rest of the class watches and laughs at their stumbles.

— Will Collins, The Washington Examiner, 26 Sep. 2026
Pledging love and respecting someone or a relationship can make people feel so uncomfortable that leaning into these tropes of life can feel humorous, and that’s where the laughs from a Hallmark film come from.

— Anthony Solorzano, Los Angeles Times, 25 Sep. 2026

Definition of laughs

Noun

Her giggles kept interrupting the tune through much of her performance, and soon Pioneer Hall was laughing with her and cheering her through it.

— Nick El Hajj, Des Moines Register, 18 Aug. 2026
Meanwhile, donning night-vision giggles, Knoxville gleefully attacks them with trash can lids and tasers.

— Tim Grierson, Vulture, 11 Aug. 2026

Definition of giggles

Noun

The result is an incredible repository of vexations, bafflements, witticisms, and brilliancies.

— Becca Rothfeld, New Yorker, 1 June 2026
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

Definition of witticisms

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pleasantness

pleasantries

pleasantry

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“Pleasantries.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/pleasantries. Accessed 4 Oct. 2026.

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Synonyms of pleasantries

noun

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