1
as in gesture
an act or utterance that is a customary show of good manners
"how are you" is merely a social pleasantry
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2
as in joke
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 pleasantry
Although the Musée Granet finally acquired its first Cézanne in 1984, Aix has long had a shaky relationship with its most famous native son, who shocked the art world—and his hometown—with his bold departure from the hazy pleasantries of Impressionism.
—
Eli Wizevich, Smithsonian Magazine, 20 June 2025
But skip the default pleasantries and be more intentional.
—Lorraine K. Lee, CNBC, 19 June 2025
By contrast, Blatter’s successor is characterised as a man in a hurry, too busy to dwell too long on pleasantries.
—Oliver Kay, New York Times, 12 June 2025
But beneath the pleasantries, motives start to be questioned leading to a devastating series of events.
—Samantha Bergeson, IndieWire, 16 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for pleasantry
Eli Wizevich, Smithsonian Magazine, 20 June 2025
But skip the default pleasantries and be more intentional.
—Lorraine K. Lee, CNBC, 19 June 2025
By contrast, Blatter’s successor is characterised as a man in a hurry, too busy to dwell too long on pleasantries.
—Oliver Kay, New York Times, 12 June 2025
But beneath the pleasantries, motives start to be questioned leading to a devastating series of events.
—Samantha Bergeson, IndieWire, 16 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for pleasantry
Recent Examples of Synonyms for pleasantry
Noun
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Liang, kneeling before me, made a praying gesture and rubbed his hands together to warm them.—
Sarah Larson,
New Yorker,
8 Sep. 2025
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The gesture might boost public support for the tax.—
Robert Goulder,
Forbes.com,
8 Sep. 2025
Noun
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Related Stories Farrelly thinks that kind of oppressive political correctness is fading and that audiences are eager to see movies that eviscerate good taste in order to land a joke again.—
Brent Lang,
Variety,
5 Sep. 2025
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What started as a joke soon turned into a tourism draw that put Lajitas on the map.—
Tiffani Jackson,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
5 Sep. 2025
Noun
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Elizabeth Olsen opted for a dress courtesy of Rodarte’s fall 2022 ready-to-wear collection.—
Julia Teti,
Footwear News,
5 Sep. 2025
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That data comes courtesy of payroll processor ADP and marks a steep slowdown from July’s upwardly revised 106,000, underscoring how fragile employment momentum has become halfway through 2025.—
Andrew Nusca,
Fortune,
5 Sep. 2025
Noun
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However, if you're pressed for time, check out the shorts Mike's New Car (2001) and Party Central (2014) for some quick laughs.—
Sydni Ellis,
PEOPLE,
7 Sep. 2025
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Her voice has been sharp, sometimes saucy, and could be silken — then let out a bell-ringing laugh.—
Scott Simon,
NPR,
6 Sep. 2025
Noun
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When Peanut pulled his second escape act, his owners knew where to look and handled Peanut's disappearance in a joking manner.—
Michael Nied,
People.com,
2 Sep. 2025
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Multiple outlets that examined the reporting identified the claim as unverified and labeled the story a hoax; Colbert had previously made a joking on-air reference to streaming platforms but had not announced any deal with Netflix.—
Megan Cartwright,
MSNBC Newsweek,
1 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Pleasantry.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/pleasantry. Accessed 10 Sep. 2025.
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