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
Randy Myers, Mercury News, 18 Mar. 2026
There’s a tremendous sweetness to the film and its central relationships, but the banter ping-pongs swiftly between the intimate and the darkly absurd.
—Siddhant Adlakha, Variety, 18 Mar. 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
In lesser hands, this could have been confusing; instead all the banter between a rock-spider-crawly alien entity and a handsome de-facto astronaut comes across as engaging and funny.
—Randy Myers, Mercury News, 18 Mar. 2026
There’s a tremendous sweetness to the film and its central relationships, but the banter ping-pongs swiftly between the intimate and the darkly absurd.
—Siddhant Adlakha, Variety, 18 Mar. 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
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No this is not a joke…Retro Weather Channel is officially back!—
Tony Maglio,
HollywoodReporter,
2 Apr. 2026
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The response to the outcry led to even more jokes online.—
Bennett Conlin,
Baltimore Sun,
2 Apr. 2026
Noun
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Bauers clearly hit the base square in the middle, and the call was quickly overturned, leading to laughs from both managers, the Rays’ Kevin Cash and the Brewers’ Pat Murphy.—
Paul Sullivan,
Chicago Tribune,
2 Apr. 2026
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Write a quick Easter joke on a sheet of paper and include it in your kids' lunch boxes the week of Easter for a sweet midday laugh, caption an Instagram post, or leave some surprise puns inside Easter eggs at the hunt.—
Nellah Bailey McGough,
Southern Living,
2 Apr. 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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With so much experience playing Head, Claassen is easily able to improvise in the moment answering random questions, cracking jokes and exchanging repartee with audience members, like the unfortunate man in row B who dared to show up at the theater on Friday in a casual sweatshirt.—
Pam Kragen,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
21 Feb. 2026
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Instead of witty repartee or slick delivery, expect genuineness, a generosity of spirit, and a feeling of being nurtured and taken care of.—
Megan Spurrell,
Condé Nast Traveler,
10 Feb. 2026
Noun
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Any amount of singing or jesting will be heard by all.—
Kansas City Star,
Kansas City Star,
24 Mar. 2026
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Language There’s some crude language, jesting, and mature comedic themes, but but nothing the modern tween or teen hasn’t seen or heard before.—
Lynnette Nicholas,
Parents,
8 Dec. 2025
Noun
-
Her essays are written with humor and insight.—
Christina Mayo,
Miami Herald,
2 Apr. 2026
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There is hope in words that can reframe our perspectives, entertain and offer humor, or commiserate in our rage or grief.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
2 Apr. 2026
Noun
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Like all the best restaurants in Rome, Piatto Romano welcomes a steady stream of Italians for lunch and dinner, who fill the restaurant with chatter and laughter.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
31 Mar. 2026
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The chatter around streaming bots grew noticeably louder in August 2025, when a prison phone call between Young Thug and an unidentified associate leaked online.—
Kyle Eustice,
VIBE.com,
30 Mar. 2026
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
Cite this Entry
“Banter.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/banter. Accessed 6 Apr. 2026.
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