as in joke
something said or done to cause laughter
a drama critic who is best remembered for his biting witticisms
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of witticism
Batemen gets a few moving monologues, but Vince’s heavier dose of morbid witticisms aren’t enough to overcome his pervasive selfishness and abominable behavior (nor is a late-arriving revelation about his past).
—
Ben Travers, IndieWire, 7 Sep. 2025
Discontent is brimming with witticisms and scathing observations about our modern-day malaise.
—Julia Hass, Literary Hub, 2 Sep. 2025
Clips of Cauley's sizzling witticism went viral with millions of views and earned her repeat invitations to reappear on Kill Tony.
—Beth Warren, Nashville Tennessean, 21 July 2025
The American brand founded by sisters-in-law Veronica Swanson Beard and Veronica Miele Beard has tapped the French artist, best known for his block-capital witticisms, for the collection dropping Tuesday.
—Lily Templeton, Footwear News, 3 Sep. 2019
See All Example Sentences for witticism
Ben Travers, IndieWire, 7 Sep. 2025
Discontent is brimming with witticisms and scathing observations about our modern-day malaise.
—Julia Hass, Literary Hub, 2 Sep. 2025
Clips of Cauley's sizzling witticism went viral with millions of views and earned her repeat invitations to reappear on Kill Tony.
—Beth Warren, Nashville Tennessean, 21 July 2025
The American brand founded by sisters-in-law Veronica Swanson Beard and Veronica Miele Beard has tapped the French artist, best known for his block-capital witticisms, for the collection dropping Tuesday.
—Lily Templeton, Footwear News, 3 Sep. 2019
See All Example Sentences for witticism
Recent Examples of Synonyms for witticism
Noun
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These headwinds, together with Spirit’s ongoing reputational challenges like being the target of jokes by late-night hosts and prominent press coverage of its two brushes with bankruptcy, likely account for Spirit’s satisfaction decline.—
Zach Wichter,
USA Today,
23 Apr. 2026
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As anachronisms constantly threaten to puncture the illusion, the cast stays wry, nimble and self-conscious in order to locate plot points and jokes that reinforce the golden-age radio setting, scribbling notes and introducing characters that propel them through ludicrous narrative arcs.—
John Wenzel,
Denver Post,
23 Apr. 2026
Noun
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Their laughs and chatter fill the countryside and one another’s hearts, the merriment binding them all together like caterpillars in one big cocoon.—
Brian Moylan,
Vulture,
24 Apr. 2026
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Over Your Dead Body knows that sustaining a harmonious union amid petty jealousies, paranoia, and personal flaws is hard; navigating a hostage situation involving desperate sickos and sociopaths is even harder; and maintaining a balance of laughs and gag-reflex tweaking is the hardest of it all.—
David Fear,
Rolling Stone,
24 Apr. 2026
Noun
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Here opposites — classy and brassy — are distractions, with odd-couple joking substituting for something more substantial.—
Frank Rizzo,
Variety,
23 Apr. 2026
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There was none of the usual laughing and joking.—
Mario Cortegana,
New York Times,
20 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Witticism.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/witticism. Accessed 1 May. 2026.
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