as in joking
marked by or expressive of mild or good-natured teasing
made jesting comments about my need for serious fashion advice
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
as in joke
good-natured teasing or exchanging of clever remarks
lots of laughter and elbow-nudging jesting at family reunions
Synonyms & Similar Words
as in bantering
to make jokes
when I asked my sister for a loan, she laughingly replied, "Surely you jest!"
Synonyms & Similar Words
Example Sentences
Recent Examples of Synonyms for jesting
Noun
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Conan O'Brien Named Host Of The 2025 Oscars By Megan Cartwright Deputy Entertainment Editor Newsweek Is A Trust Project Member news article 0 Conan O'Brien revealed on his podcast that part of his Oscars promo joke was cut by the Academy.—
Mark Davis,
Newsweek,
14 Mar. 2025 -
But the jokes Marley’s friends tell at her bedside are a wake-up call for Link.—
Laura Bradley,
Vulture,
13 Mar. 2025
Verb
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Nile and Bernard seemed like best friends, always joking and very excited.—
David Browne,
Rolling Stone,
22 Dec. 2024
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Not just the kind of vaudevillian two guys joking around with each other on stage, but even just as individual comedians.—
Justin Koreis,
Rolling Stone,
21 Dec. 2024
Adjective
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While Lucie is warm, vivacious, and a ray of light that shines off the page, Aiden is a grumpy, reluctant romantic who hides behind sarcastic quips.—
Maureen Lee Lenker,
EW.com,
27 Feb. 2025
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For instance, a sarcastic comment brushed off as a joke, or unspoken expectations that fuel resentment.—
Mark Travers,
Forbes,
24 Feb. 2025
Noun
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Even if real life divorce is not that funny, this comic take on divorce is set to offer some welcome laughs.—
Joan MacDonald,
Forbes,
13 Mar. 2025
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Whatever explains the Trump-Putin bond, acclaiming it as a brilliant, Kissinger-like diplomatic pivot doesn’t pass the laugh test.—
David Frum,
The Atlantic,
12 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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But Black Bag is electrifying, with Soderbergh operating in his God mode — portraying highly competent people attempting to outwit one another in beautiful clothes, the light practically bending to their beauty and banter.—
Angelica Jade Bastién,
Vulture,
14 Mar. 2025
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Michael Caine in The Ipcress File, and a sultry Blanchett trade banter and bullets?—
David Fear,
Rolling Stone,
12 Mar. 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
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Cite this Entry
“Jesting.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/jesting. Accessed 22 Mar. 2025.
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