as in joke
good-natured teasing or exchanging of clever remarks
their tongue-in-cheek persiflage is sometimes mistaken for an exchange of insults by people who don't know them
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Recent Examples of persiflage
None of this will keep Republicans and conservatives from attacking the reconciliation bill with smoke, mirrors and persiflage.
—
Michael Hiltzik, Los Angeles Times, 10 Aug. 2022
Michael Hiltzik, Los Angeles Times, 10 Aug. 2022
Recent Examples of Synonyms for persiflage
Noun
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For years this has been the joke among students and faculty at campuses everywhere.—
Beth Anderson,
Twin Cities,
6 Feb. 2025
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Though their conversation was inaudible over the sounds in the gymnasium, Abdul-Jabbar seemed to make a joke about Johnson wearing Michigan State gear — looking down at his own letterman jacket and back up at Johnson’s green hoodie.—
Angel Saunders,
People.com,
6 Feb. 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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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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As the banter began to subside, the trio went back to their respective rooting corners.—
Anna Lazarus Caplan,
People.com,
5 Feb. 2025
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The format will see highlights and clips combined with banter, studio segments and special guests in each episode.—
Alex Weprin,
The Hollywood Reporter,
3 Feb. 2025
Noun
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Kelsea Ballerini and Noah Kahan had a laugh before the 2025 Grammy Awards.—
Ilana Kaplan,
People.com,
3 Feb. 2025
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Expect surprises, laughs and celebrity cameos on the airwaves all night, with the 2025 Ad Meter winner announced on Monday morning.—
Jim Reineking,
USA TODAY,
3 Feb. 2025
Noun
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Awash in candlelight chiaroscuro and punctuated with witty repartee, the film initially seems like a quirky comedy about a father and daughter struggling with their rhubarb farm.—
Ben Croll,
Variety,
30 Jan. 2025
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Charton is disarming and funny, and the two are clearly enamored with each other, falling into natural repartee about their kids and each other.—
Rachel Handler,
Vulture,
23 Jan. 2025
Noun
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Through it all—the fights, the coupon cutting, the hand-me-downs, the breakdowns—with love, humor and perseverance, the family prevails.—
Denise Petski,
Deadline,
28 Jan. 2025
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Despite great chemistry between stars Matthew McConaughey, Ethan Hawke, Skeet Ulrich, and Vincent D'Onofrio, The Newton Boys is a crime film without much tension that devolves into a hangout picture without the humor or wit of his better, well, hangout pictures.—
Brian Smolensky and James Mercadante,
EW.com,
27 Jan. 2025
Noun
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Not wind but a chaff of pollen choking in that whirl.—
David Baker,
The Atlantic,
8 Dec. 2024
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So to me, it’s always been the later draft rounds that separate the fantasy wheat from the chaff.—
John Laghezza,
The Athletic,
20 Aug. 2024
Thesaurus Entries Near persiflage
Cite this Entry
“Persiflage.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/persiflage. Accessed 10 Feb. 2025.
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