1
as in courtesies
an act or utterance that is a customary show of good manners
"how are you" is merely a social pleasantry
Synonyms & Similar Words
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2
as in jokes
something said or done to cause laughter
his after-dinner speeches usually include the sort of gentle pleasantry that raises a chuckle
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Recent Examples of pleasantries
Oregon-Northwestern and USC-Purdue officially kicked off the Big Ten’s conference schedule on Saturday, but things really heat up around the league in Week 4, with most of the nonconference pleasantries over with and the march to Indianapolis in full swing.
—
Scott Dochterman, New York Times, 14 Sep. 2025
The white one with scraggly, shoulder-length hair skipped pleasantries and asked with patent urgency for water.
—Denver Nicks, Rolling Stone, 14 Sep. 2025
Legislators and lobbyists in suits chat with families while a city councilman exchanges first-name pleasantries with constituents, young and old, in line.
—Robin Roenker, Southern Living, 13 Sep. 2025
These polite pleasantries waste precious attention.
—Jodie Cook, Forbes.com, 8 Sep. 2025
Advertisement Alcaraz spread his arms wide, smiled at his team’s box, and dropped his head into Sinner’s shoulder at the net as the pair exchanged pleasantries.
—Sean Gregory, Time, 7 Sep. 2025
Trump applauded while the Russian president walked to meet him, shaking hands and giving friendly arm taps while the two exchanged pleasantries before posing for photos.
—Rema Rahman, The Hill, 16 Aug. 2025
But before that, some pleasantries were exchanged.
—Jessica Wang, EW.com, 14 Mar. 2025
Within the span of five minutes, Samantha had skipped pleasantries and knew all about my three Italian mothers (my mother and her sisters), my current complicated situationship, and my dreams of becoming a writer.
—Sara Sturek, Vogue, 13 Mar. 2025
Scott Dochterman, New York Times, 14 Sep. 2025
The white one with scraggly, shoulder-length hair skipped pleasantries and asked with patent urgency for water.
—Denver Nicks, Rolling Stone, 14 Sep. 2025
Legislators and lobbyists in suits chat with families while a city councilman exchanges first-name pleasantries with constituents, young and old, in line.
—Robin Roenker, Southern Living, 13 Sep. 2025
These polite pleasantries waste precious attention.
—Jodie Cook, Forbes.com, 8 Sep. 2025
Advertisement Alcaraz spread his arms wide, smiled at his team’s box, and dropped his head into Sinner’s shoulder at the net as the pair exchanged pleasantries.
—Sean Gregory, Time, 7 Sep. 2025
Trump applauded while the Russian president walked to meet him, shaking hands and giving friendly arm taps while the two exchanged pleasantries before posing for photos.
—Rema Rahman, The Hill, 16 Aug. 2025
But before that, some pleasantries were exchanged.
—Jessica Wang, EW.com, 14 Mar. 2025
Within the span of five minutes, Samantha had skipped pleasantries and knew all about my three Italian mothers (my mother and her sisters), my current complicated situationship, and my dreams of becoming a writer.
—Sara Sturek, Vogue, 13 Mar. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for pleasantries
Noun
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Oto goes beyond basic greetings, chatting with guests, telling jokes, sharing historical facts, and even suggesting local activities.—
Sujita Sinha,
Interesting Engineering,
17 Sep. 2025
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These jokes revolved around the idea of misusing objects, like putting food on their heads, and pretend play like washing hands without soap or water.—
Jack Beresford,
MSNBC Newsweek,
16 Sep. 2025
Noun
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The Meta Ray-Ban Display glasses come with the Meta Neural Band, an EMG wristband that allows users to control the device using hand gestures.—
Jonathan Vanian,
CNBC,
18 Sep. 2025
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The models in all-black clothes walked closely behind their more colorful counterparts, mimicking their gestures and creating the illusion of a shadow.—
Jacqui Palumbo,
CNN Money,
17 Sep. 2025
Noun
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Posey brought the laughs and lorazepam to The White Lotus season 3 as the Ratliff family matriarch, Victoria.—
Carson Blackwelder,
PEOPLE,
15 Sep. 2025
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Rogen remembers the moment Apatow came up with one of the scenes that drew the biggest laughs in the film, in which Steve Carell’s character awkwardly tries to relieve himself while aroused.—
Adrienne LaFrance,
The Atlantic,
15 Sep. 2025
Noun
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So many giggles, even before Nakia lit up.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
16 Sep. 2025
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If the initial response to the State Farm spot has been positive, there are inherent risks associated with using giggles as a delivery vehicle for your brand messaging.—
Anthony Crupi,
Sportico.com,
12 Sep. 2025
Noun
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Boys in blue training kits gather in pockets of shade and trade wisecracks.—
Jack Lang,
New York Times,
19 Aug. 2025
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Nearly every inch of the bar’s narrow interior is plastered with glowing beer logo signs, neon strip lights and posters jeering with bawdy bar jokes and wisecracks.—
Elizabeth Wolfe,
CNN Money,
6 Aug. 2025
Noun
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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
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Discontent is brimming with witticisms and scathing observations about our modern-day malaise.—
Julia Hass,
Literary Hub,
2 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Pleasantries.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/pleasantries. Accessed 18 Sep. 2025.
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