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
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 pleasantry
Flagg and James exchanged pleasantries before and after the game, shaking hands twice on the court.
—
Mike Curtis, Dallas Morning News, 5 Apr. 2026
Despite the intensity on the court, Staley and Auriemma have typically exchanged public pleasantries, complimenting each others' successes and importance to the women's game.
—ABC News, 4 Apr. 2026
The staff isn't particularly happy, helpful, or welcoming; after all, who has time for pleasantries when you're slammed all day?
—Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 31 Mar. 2026
After some awkward pleasantries, a single white envelope containing deal terms was slid across the table.
—Matthew Herper, STAT, 25 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for pleasantry
Mike Curtis, Dallas Morning News, 5 Apr. 2026
Despite the intensity on the court, Staley and Auriemma have typically exchanged public pleasantries, complimenting each others' successes and importance to the women's game.
—ABC News, 4 Apr. 2026
The staff isn't particularly happy, helpful, or welcoming; after all, who has time for pleasantries when you're slammed all day?
—Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 31 Mar. 2026
After some awkward pleasantries, a single white envelope containing deal terms was slid across the table.
—Matthew Herper, STAT, 25 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for pleasantry
Recent Examples of Synonyms for pleasantry
Noun
-
My background as an art historian pushed me to consider that there might be an understanding of a collective experience in that idiosyncratic gesture I’d made.—
Lilyanna D'Amato,
ARTnews.com,
26 Apr. 2026
-
These gestures are shaped by a mix of influencer aesthetics and pop culture.—
Rachel Hale,
USA Today,
25 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
As the Ado Annie-like Betsy, a horny teen-ager whose father owns a shotgun, Kurtz is playing a character who should be, and kind of is, a one-joke punch line.—
Emily Nussbaum,
New Yorker,
30 Apr. 2026
-
Complaints about hospital food are certainly not new, and Jell-O and fruit juice are often the butt of related jokes.—
Stephanie Armour,
CBS News,
30 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
Photograph courtesy 2025 Adama Films / Shochiku Yasujirō Ozu, who made dozens of masterworks from the nineteen-thirties through the early sixties, is among the most misunderstood of great directors.—
Dan Stahl,
New Yorker,
1 May 2026
-
Check out the map below, courtesy of the Orange County registrar of voters’ office, to find the nearest vote center or ballot drop box to you for the 2026 primary election.—
Oc Register,
Oc Register,
1 May 2026
Noun
-
McDaniels, who cut through the Nuggets’ egos early in the series with fearless words and a smug grin, got the last laugh.—
Bennett Durando,
Denver Post,
1 May 2026
-
Her laugh was loud and heartfelt.—
Laura Rodríguez Presa,
Chicago Tribune,
1 May 2026
Noun
-
Here opposites — classy and brassy — are distractions, with odd-couple joking substituting for something more substantial.—
Frank Rizzo,
Variety,
23 Apr. 2026
-
There was none of the usual laughing and joking.—
Mario Cortegana,
New York Times,
20 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Pleasantry.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/pleasantry. Accessed 2 May. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
