as in chat
friendly, informal conversation or an instance of this
a bit of chitchat over lunch with people we hadn't seen in a while
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of chitchat
The pair talk about everything, from fun chitchat to discussing schemes and how Riley can get his body healthy as his load increases.
—
Shaun Goodwin, Idaho Statesman, 10 Dec. 2025
Behind them, another pair of former vice presidents and onetime political rivals engaged in friendly chitchat: former Vice Presidents Al Gore (D) and Dan Quayle (R).
—Sarah Fortinsky, The Hill, 20 Nov. 2025
The initial touch marks the transition from regular life—chitchat, logistics, social armor—to the otherworldly realm of the massage, in which mind and body are uniquely harmonized, and some kind of euphoria is achieved.
—Sarah Larson, New Yorker, 8 Sep. 2025
The big picture: Nationally, the trend has been the opposite, with most places seeing a slow but steady return to the land of cubicles, water cooler chitchat and harsh fluorescent lighting.
—Esteban L. Hernandez, Axios, 9 Dec. 2024
See All Example Sentences for chitchat
Shaun Goodwin, Idaho Statesman, 10 Dec. 2025
Behind them, another pair of former vice presidents and onetime political rivals engaged in friendly chitchat: former Vice Presidents Al Gore (D) and Dan Quayle (R).
—Sarah Fortinsky, The Hill, 20 Nov. 2025
The initial touch marks the transition from regular life—chitchat, logistics, social armor—to the otherworldly realm of the massage, in which mind and body are uniquely harmonized, and some kind of euphoria is achieved.
—Sarah Larson, New Yorker, 8 Sep. 2025
The big picture: Nationally, the trend has been the opposite, with most places seeing a slow but steady return to the land of cubicles, water cooler chitchat and harsh fluorescent lighting.
—Esteban L. Hernandez, Axios, 9 Dec. 2024
See All Example Sentences for chitchat
Recent Examples of Synonyms for chitchat
Noun
-
The Inn stays shut during winter and ‘pack ice’ season, which some locals will tell you is the most beautiful time of all—for snowmobiling and snowshoeing through the Island’s interior by day, and come evening, getting invited into someone's warm shed for a tipple and a chat.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
2 Apr. 2026
-
May 21 – June 20 A random chat could inspire you to make smarter moves.—
Tarot.com,
Hartford Courant,
2 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
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
-
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
-
The days were spent in a sleek conference room, where guests gave talks.—
Ronan Farrow,
New Yorker,
6 Apr. 2026
-
Signaling progress in the peace talks, Axios reported that Washington and Tehran were engaged in discussions mediated by some Gulf states for a potential 45-day ceasefire that could end the conflict, although the odds for reaching a partial deal before the Tuesday deadline were slim.—
Anniek Bao,
CNBC,
6 Apr. 2026
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Cite this Entry
“Chitchat.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/chitchat. Accessed 6 Apr. 2026.
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