1
as in gesture
an act or utterance that is a customary show of good manners
"how are you" is merely a social pleasantry
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
2
as in joke
something said or done to cause laughter
his after-dinner speeches usually include the sort of gentle pleasantry that raises a chuckle
Synonyms & Similar Words
Examples Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of pleasantry
Senator John Fetterman and billionaire Elon Musk shared pleasantries as the two were on Capitol Hill yesterday.
—
Daniel R. Depetris, Newsweek, 6 Dec. 2024
As the ladies settle in and gather for lunch, casual pleasantries quickly give way to playful shade—par for the course with this group.
—Shelby Stewart, Essence, 16 Dec. 2024
Instead of sharing a meal and exchanging pleasantries at a restaurant or coffee shop, the two men got to know each other by diving into a 45-minute workout, complete with pushups, chest presses and intense cardio.
—Brent Lang, Variety, 6 Dec. 2024
At the time, Mattei was in a relationship so the pair didn't connect beyond an exchange of pleasantries.
—Ashlyn Robinette, People.com, 26 Oct. 2024
See all Example Sentences for pleasantry 
Daniel R. Depetris, Newsweek, 6 Dec. 2024
As the ladies settle in and gather for lunch, casual pleasantries quickly give way to playful shade—par for the course with this group.
—Shelby Stewart, Essence, 16 Dec. 2024
Instead of sharing a meal and exchanging pleasantries at a restaurant or coffee shop, the two men got to know each other by diving into a 45-minute workout, complete with pushups, chest presses and intense cardio.
—Brent Lang, Variety, 6 Dec. 2024
At the time, Mattei was in a relationship so the pair didn't connect beyond an exchange of pleasantries.
—Ashlyn Robinette, People.com, 26 Oct. 2024
See all Example Sentences for pleasantry
Recent Examples of Synonyms for pleasantry
Noun
-
The who and how of recognition matter just as much as the gesture itself.Leeatt Rothschild, Forbes, 17 Jan. 2025
-
The proposal was framed as an act of goodwill — a gesture to beautify the campus and create a unified space for both the university and the surrounding community.Victor Edwards, New York Daily News, 15 Jan. 2025
Noun
-
Humor is a helpful tool in dealing with tension and stress, so making jokes about an incident that can help manage the feelings of cognitive dissonance and helplessness news like this can elicit.Callum Booth, Forbes, 13 Jan. 2025
-
Speaking over Zoom, Vidal told me that in 2019 many people took Trump’s suggestion about buying Greenland as a joke.John Cassidy, The New Yorker, 13 Jan. 2025
Noun
-
Hathaway continued the gold color motif with her heels, opting for a pair courtesy of Loubiloo.Julia Teti, WWD, 9 Jan. 2025
-
In Tagovailoa’s absence, the Dolphins looked terrible, dropping three of four games, including an embarrassing 31-12 thumping courtesy of the lowly Tennessee Titans.C. Isaiah Smalls II, Miami Herald, 7 Jan. 2025
Noun
-
The fake laugh would be ‘gasp gasp,’ a kind of inhale.Susan Morrison, The New Yorker, 13 Jan. 2025
-
Rivers said with a laugh before his Bucks’ faced Thibodeau’s Knicks at Madison Square Garden.Peter Sblendorio, New York Daily News, 12 Jan. 2025
Thesaurus Entries Near pleasantry
Cite this Entry
“Pleasantry.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/pleasantry. Accessed 20 Jan. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share