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
Sean Woods, Rolling Stone, 25 May 2026
The ‘banter’ era settled in, with every collapse, every disappointment, every failure amplified in the fever swamps of social media.
—Ian Crouch, New Yorker, 20 May 2026
Erin Clack, PEOPLE, 13 Jan. 2026
Its sprawling dining hall brought in countless families, partiers, dates and football fans who wanted to banter over fries, salads and sandwiches and watch the world pass by on the other side of the glass.
—Miguel Otárola, Denver Post, 30 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for banter
Noun
The banter between the two hosts is lively.
—Sean Woods, Rolling Stone, 25 May 2026
The ‘banter’ era settled in, with every collapse, every disappointment, every failure amplified in the fever swamps of social media.
—Ian Crouch, New Yorker, 20 May 2026
Verb
Siwa and Hughes playfully bantered about a potential engagement ahead of spending their first Christmas together.
—Erin Clack, PEOPLE, 13 Jan. 2026
Its sprawling dining hall brought in countless families, partiers, dates and football fans who wanted to banter over fries, salads and sandwiches and watch the world pass by on the other side of the glass.
—Miguel Otárola, Denver Post, 30 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for banter
Recent Examples of Synonyms for banter
Noun
-
And yet, Chisholm’s chat with Fallon sparked some jokes and blowback after the host asked the colorful character what the Yankees’ ultimate goal is this season.—
Gary Phillips,
New York Daily News,
4 June 2026
-
The majority of the jokes come off as more asserted than delighted.—
Owen Gleiberman,
Variety,
4 June 2026
Noun
-
The quest to find the better joke, the stronger laugh—that’s reason enough to keep on living.—
Michael Schulman,
New Yorker,
29 May 2026
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These people had huge laughs Thursday morning over their airport Bloody Marys after realizing their words were treated as if serious.—
Joe Rexrode,
New York Times,
29 May 2026
Noun
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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
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The action flows, the badinage is fast and fun.—
Owen Gleiberman,
Variety,
28 Aug. 2025
Noun
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At the heart of this very British invasion’s appeal, beyond the revelatory historical detail and sharp insights, is the friendship and repartee between the two hosts.—
Sean Woods,
Rolling Stone,
25 May 2026
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That’s welcome repartee at any age, much less at Fangio’s 67.—
Brooks Kubena,
New York Times,
22 May 2026
Noun
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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
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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
Noun
-
Near the end of the play, Majok’s script becomes, like Mann’s score, flatter and broader in its messaging, losing some of its sharpness of observation, and the humor that characterizes Kaysen’s memoir fades.—
Jackson McHenry,
Vulture,
5 June 2026
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These days, living through a presidency marked by narrowness and resentment, the grace, humor, and curiosity with which Barack Obama approached the world feel impossibly distant.—
Justin Davidson,
Curbed,
4 June 2026
Noun
-
In December 2024, Lipa posted photos featuring a diamond ring on her left ring finger, spurring engagement chatter.—
Alexandra Del Rosario,
Los Angeles Times,
1 June 2026
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There’s plenty of chatter behind the scenes about more stories to come after the torrent of revelations since Platner announced his campaign.—
Burgess Everett,
semafor.com,
1 June 2026
Noun
-
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,
Washington Post,
14 Oct. 2020
Cite this Entry
“Banter.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/banter. Accessed 7 Jun. 2026.
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