raillery

noun

ˈrā-lə-rē How to pronounce raillery (audio)
Definition of raillerynext
as in badinage
good-natured teasing or exchanging of clever remarks Luke had to put up with a lot of raillery from his sister the first time he asked a girl for a date

Synonyms & Similar Words

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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 raillery 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, 14 Oct. 2020 Some may feel, in this Trumpus Caesar summer, that such raillery, let alone the underlying idea of trying to understand why Americans have shot presidents, is an untoward or trite provocation. — Jesse Green, New York Times, 13 July 2017
Recent Examples of Synonyms for raillery
  1. badinage
  2. laugh
  3. joke
  4. jesting
  5. banter
  6. persiflage
  7. humor
  8. repartee
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
  • Got lots of laughs, and one boy actually preferred the packets.
    — Chicago Tribune, Chicago Tribune, 30 Oct. 2026
  • That’s also a movie where laughs come in inappropriate places, but Labute got the benefit of the doubt as an unknown with no corporate support.
    — Jim Hemphill, IndieWire, 30 Oct. 2026
Definition of laugh
Noun
  • My friend Jackie Kashian was hired to write jokes for standup, for a comedian who didn’t have the time.
    — Ava Kofman, New Yorker, 25 Oct. 2026
  • The whole joke is that Chandler is really bad at posing for photos.
    — Bethy Squires, Vulture, 25 Oct. 2026
Definition of joke
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
  • The banter, which evokes some of the elbow-nudging comedy of Culture Clash, seems to excite Alfaro more than his plot, which languishes until the play’s final stretch.
    — Theater Critic, Los Angeles Times, 27 Oct. 2026
  • The camaraderie and banter in this last scene, particularly between Heather and Lisa, fill me with so much joy.
    — Tom Smyth, Vulture, 22 Oct. 2026
Definition of banter
Noun
  • 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
Definition of persiflage
Noun
  • Now, Gomez finds humor in the video and even some pride in how unapologetically endearing her teenage self was.
    — Alejandra Gularte, Vulture, 30 Oct. 2026
  • Their performances — at London’s West End in 2009 and on New York’s Broadway in 2013-14 — were praised for their humor and comedy.
    — Marlene Lenthang, NBC news, 30 Oct. 2026
Definition of humor
Noun
  • The Hollywood Reporter got a sneak peek of Meemaw, which sees Barr running amok in thrift store furs at rooster fights — closer in tone to trailer park comedy like My Name Is Earl than the three-camera repartee of Roseanne.
    — Seth Abramovitch, HollywoodReporter, 20 Oct. 2026
  • The repartee sparkles; the farcical touches lighten the tone.
    — Leigh Haber, Los Angeles Times, 13 Oct. 2026
Definition of repartee

Browse Nearby Words

railings
raillery
railroad
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Cite this Entry

“Raillery.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/raillery. Accessed 2 Nov. 2026.

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