as in chat
friendly, informal conversation or an instance of this
at the corporate get-together we made the obligatory small talk with some people from the home office
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Example 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 small talk
Having fewer people reduces distractions and pressures of too much small talk.
—
Lily Hautau, CNN Money, 26 Jan. 2026
After Harris and Shapiro sat down, in a dining room that had been cleared of most furniture other than two chairs and a table, there was little in the way of small talk or pleasantries.
—Toluse Olorunnipa, The Atlantic, 19 Jan. 2026
In January, love arrives through honest conversations and meaningful exchanges that go far beyond small talk.
—Valerie Mesa, PEOPLE, 10 Jan. 2026
The guy in the back seat with me was just, like, trying to strike up small talk.
—Susan-Elizabeth Littlefield, CBS News, 9 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for small talk
Lily Hautau, CNN Money, 26 Jan. 2026
After Harris and Shapiro sat down, in a dining room that had been cleared of most furniture other than two chairs and a table, there was little in the way of small talk or pleasantries.
—Toluse Olorunnipa, The Atlantic, 19 Jan. 2026
In January, love arrives through honest conversations and meaningful exchanges that go far beyond small talk.
—Valerie Mesa, PEOPLE, 10 Jan. 2026
The guy in the back seat with me was just, like, trying to strike up small talk.
—Susan-Elizabeth Littlefield, CBS News, 9 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for small talk
Recent Examples of Synonyms for small talk
Noun
-
Kurt's key takeaways AI chat apps are moving fast, but security is still lagging behind.—
Kurt Knutsson,
FOXNews.com,
5 Feb. 2026
-
On the latest Sporticast episode, hosts Scott Soshnick and Eben Novy-Williams chat from Super Bowl Radio Row in San Francisco.—
Scott Soshnick,
Sportico.com,
5 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
Some of those talks have sidelined antitrust chief Gail Slater, who inherited the Live Nation case from the Biden administration but has pursued it toward a trial set for March.—
Rohan Goswami,
semafor.com,
9 Feb. 2026
-
Pezeshkian, who ordered Araghchi to pursue talks with the Americans after likely getting Khamenei’s blessing, also wrote on X on Sunday about the talks.—
CNN Money,
CNN Money,
9 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
Out in the hallway, the raucous chatter of teenagers echoed in the halls, and cars honked on the busy street outside to pick them up.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
9 Feb. 2026
-
The container shipping company has been the subject of recent chatter regarding a possible sale.—
Glenn Taylor,
Sourcing Journal,
9 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
When the table talk turns political, Hagains suggests shifting your approach instead of your mood.—
Tiffani Jackson,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
21 Nov. 2025
-
Each monthly box includes three recipe guides, skill lessons, a kitchen tool, a kitchen project, an apron patch, table talk cards, and a grocery list.—
Jessica Booth,
Parents,
16 Dec. 2024
Cite this Entry
“Small talk.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/small%20talk. Accessed 15 Feb. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
