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
That’s good news for the families of players, coaches, staffers and media members, but bad news for fans looking to avoid having to make small talk during the holidays.
—
Doug Kyed, Boston Herald, 15 May 2026
In a video about an erratic Uber driver, a recognizable dynamic—awkward small talk, impatience to set off—escalates into a life-threatening one.
—Alex Barasch, New Yorker, 11 May 2026
Individuals were randomly assigned to either be as efficient as possible when placing their order - no small talk with the staff - or to be more social with the barista.
—Rhitu Chatterjee, NPR, 9 May 2026
Another subtler contributor may be the loss of small talk among people in public spaces.
—Markham Heid, Time, 28 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for small talk
Doug Kyed, Boston Herald, 15 May 2026
In a video about an erratic Uber driver, a recognizable dynamic—awkward small talk, impatience to set off—escalates into a life-threatening one.
—Alex Barasch, New Yorker, 11 May 2026
Individuals were randomly assigned to either be as efficient as possible when placing their order - no small talk with the staff - or to be more social with the barista.
—Rhitu Chatterjee, NPR, 9 May 2026
Another subtler contributor may be the loss of small talk among people in public spaces.
—Markham Heid, Time, 28 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for small talk
Recent Examples of Synonyms for small talk
Noun
-
The ladies who work at my local one are always friendly, always game for a brief chat.—
Sable Yong,
Allure,
11 June 2026
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My babysitter sent me screenshots of her group chats, all renamed in Cameli’s honor.—
Sophie Gilbert,
The Atlantic,
10 June 2026
Noun
-
The talks are deadlocked over $24 billion in frozen Iranian assets, a top official previously told CNN.—
Dalia Abdelwahab,
CNN Money,
7 June 2026
-
The day before Putin speaking at the conference rejecting Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy's offer of face-to-face talks.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
7 June 2026
Noun
-
But sidle up to the bar, eerily silent until the restaurant quickly fills with chatter, and order a stiff drink before settling into a table and digging into heaping plates of pasta, milanesa, and a Caesar salad that always hits the spot.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
9 June 2026
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The chatter of cosmopolitan élites is the most reviled of all discourses right now.—
Adam Gopnik,
New Yorker,
8 June 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 13 Jun. 2026.
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