as in joke
good-natured teasing or exchanging of clever remarks
members of the Algonquin Round Table were known for their brilliant and witty banter
Synonyms & Similar Words
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as in to joke
to make jokes
the teacher bantered pleasantly, albeit a bit awkwardly, with the students at the school dance
Synonyms & Similar Words
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of banter
Staff, The Christian Science Monitor, 20 Mar. 2025
In addition to cutting down on banter, Blige struck a mellower, less aggressive tone than at several prior local appearances — a stunning 2004 gig at Arie Crown Theater and memorable co-headlining 2016 date with Maxwell at United Center included.
—Bob Gendron, Chicago Tribune, 15 Mar. 2025
New York Times, 16 Feb. 2025
Only five days into rehearsals and surrounded by artfully cluttered ’80s office furniture, the actors gathered around a fake restaurant booth and bantered in a way Mamet himself could have scripted.
—Rebecca Alter, Vulture, 26 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for banter
Noun
Their witty banter about songs sounds like Nora Ephron for Pitchfork readers.
—Staff, The Christian Science Monitor, 20 Mar. 2025
In addition to cutting down on banter, Blige struck a mellower, less aggressive tone than at several prior local appearances — a stunning 2004 gig at Arie Crown Theater and memorable co-headlining 2016 date with Maxwell at United Center included.
—Bob Gendron, Chicago Tribune, 15 Mar. 2025
Verb
Riding in a cab afterward, my father and the cabdriver were bantering when my father’s colleague interjected jokingly.
—New York Times, 16 Feb. 2025
Only five days into rehearsals and surrounded by artfully cluttered ’80s office furniture, the actors gathered around a fake restaurant booth and bantered in a way Mamet himself could have scripted.
—Rebecca Alter, Vulture, 26 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for banter
Recent Examples of Synonyms for banter
Noun
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Meanwhile, Corden, as the event’s emcee, made some uncomfortable jokes about the Dow dropping 2200 points last Friday.—
Martha Ross,
Mercury News,
7 Apr. 2025
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After Wil Trapp scored a rare goal in Minnesota United’s 2-1 win over New York City on Sunday — and the midfielder did so from outside the 18-yard box — Michael Boxall had jokes ready for his teammate and friend in the visiting locker room at Yankee Stadium.—
Andy Greder,
Twin Cities,
6 Apr. 2025
Noun
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In a bit role, Morgan McGhee delivers big laughs with her loopy take as a newscaster.—
Frank Rizzo,
Variety,
8 Apr. 2025
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The Good, The Bad & The Rugby podcast co-host was spotted sharing a laugh with his daughter Mia and his niece Savannah Phillips on Christmas at Sandringham in December 2024, joining the royals for church on the holiday.—
Janine Henni,
People.com,
7 Apr. 2025
Noun
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In The Kitchen, Wesker tracked the decorum from friendly badinage to hostile vernacular that co-workers sustain just to get through the day.—
Armond White,
National Review,
30 Oct. 2024
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While Hawley hasn’t left behind any of his signature philosophical dialogue or memorable badinage, Season 5 is also the most reliant on the camera to make its points.—
Jim Hemphill,
IndieWire,
13 Aug. 2024
Noun
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For all his entertaining repartee, Hedges is keenly aware of when to lock in.—
Ken Rosenthal,
The Athletic,
25 Feb. 2025
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Ally and Jay are both sarcastic, too — their best lines are muttered under their breaths — and their repartee becomes more interesting than the bloody theatrics.—
Amy Nicholson,
Los Angeles Times,
5 Feb. 2025
Noun
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Their early short films were made on shoestring budgets, relying on humor and inventive storytelling.—
Raja Krishnamoorthi,
MSNBC Newsweek,
9 Apr. 2025
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The role sees Williams’s character balancing humor and tragedy up until her final moments.—
Lexi Carson,
HollywoodReporter,
9 Apr. 2025
Noun
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In the case of viral chatter, the message would be a human pandemic.—
Ron Barrett,
The Conversation,
31 Mar. 2025
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Instead of dialogue, the SEAL team communicates through chatter.—
David Ehrlich,
IndieWire,
28 Mar. 2025
Noun
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With time, their caustic raillery transforms into sincere attachment.—
Charlie Tyson,
The Atlantic,
13 May 2021
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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,
Washington Post,
14 Oct. 2020
Noun
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All four players had fond memories of the tournament, with Dostál offering a bit of good-natured ribbing toward Pastrnak and recalling not only his triumph of 2024 but his first experience in 2022, when his tournament was truncated by an injury.—
Andrew Knoll,
Oc Register,
25 Mar. 2025
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Trump’s playful and public ribbing of one of the world’s most prominent media moguls underscored the years-long on-again, off-again relationship between the president and publishing tycoon, one that political and media observers told The Hill this week has reached a critical new stage.—
Dominick Mastrangelo,
The Hill,
9 Feb. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Banter.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/banter. Accessed 14 Apr. 2025.
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