as in chat
friendly, informal conversation or an instance of this
at the corporate get-together we made the obligatory small talk with some people from the home office
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of small talk
Research suggests that having small talks with coworkers, while somewhat distracting, can improve your well-being at work.
—
Stephanie Brown, Verywell Health, 14 Apr. 2026
In between tidbits of small talk, Mosley, Luis Perez, Karola Vargas and Arianna Blanco, sitting around picnic tables, divulged details about what happened behind closed doors in the jury room.
—Grethel Aguila, Miami Herald, 11 Apr. 2026
As investigators searched the area with the bamboo again, Horner smoked cigarettes and seemed relaxed, making small talk about his favorite foods, work schedules and the weather.
—Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 9 Apr. 2026
What starts with small talk and charcuterie spirals into unexpected places.
—Christina Perrier, InStyle, 7 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for small talk
Stephanie Brown, Verywell Health, 14 Apr. 2026
In between tidbits of small talk, Mosley, Luis Perez, Karola Vargas and Arianna Blanco, sitting around picnic tables, divulged details about what happened behind closed doors in the jury room.
—Grethel Aguila, Miami Herald, 11 Apr. 2026
As investigators searched the area with the bamboo again, Horner smoked cigarettes and seemed relaxed, making small talk about his favorite foods, work schedules and the weather.
—Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 9 Apr. 2026
What starts with small talk and charcuterie spirals into unexpected places.
—Christina Perrier, InStyle, 7 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for small talk
Recent Examples of Synonyms for small talk
Noun
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The list of third-party sites and services the MCI tool is tracking was widely circulated internally and discussed on chat boards after a member of the Meta Superintelligence Labs, or MSL, sent a memo intended to assuage concerns about worker surveillance and privacy.—
Lora Kolodny,Jonathan Vanian,
CNBC,
23 Apr. 2026
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User panic remains On Signal’s thread, however, users debated whether the update was sufficient, with some urging that best practice is likely still to disable message previews entirely to limit device access to sensitive chats.—
Ashley Belanger,
ArsTechnica,
23 Apr. 2026
Noun
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Trump’s announcement on new talks repeated his threats against Iranian infrastructure that have drawn widespread criticism and warnings of war crimes.—
Michelle L. Price,
Chicago Tribune,
19 Apr. 2026
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Tasnim said there would be no talks while the US continues to impose a maritime blockade on Iranian ports.—
Ivana Kottasová,
CNN Money,
19 Apr. 2026
Noun
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The chatter did not test Murray’s patience.—
Troy Renck,
Denver Post,
19 Apr. 2026
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For maximum comfort and quiet, Beats Studio Pro Over-ear Headphones deliver effective noise cancellation that noticeably reduces engine hum and cabin chatter, making movies, music, and podcasts far more enjoyable.—
Samantha Leal,
Travel + Leisure,
18 Apr. 2026
Noun
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When the table talk turns political, Hagains suggests shifting your approach instead of your mood.—
Tiffani Jackson,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
21 Nov. 2025
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Each monthly box includes three recipe guides, skill lessons, a kitchen tool, a kitchen project, an apron patch, table talk cards, and a grocery list.—
Jessica Booth,
Parents,
16 Dec. 2024
Cite this Entry
“Small talk.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/small%20talk. Accessed 24 Apr. 2026.
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