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
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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
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of pleasantry
Clark reciprocated pleasantries, though nothing was more eye-catching than her 3-point barrage late in the first quarter.
—
Ben Pickman, New York Times, 15 June 2025
Backstage, Nikki Bella shared pleasantries with Natalya, Maxxine Dupri and Iyo Sky.
—Alfred Konuwa, Forbes.com, 9 June 2025
These pleasantries, while seemingly benign, take extra processing power, increasing electricity use and, ultimately, expense.
—William Arruda, Forbes.com, 11 May 2025
That pleasantry starts to end on June 8, 2014, when Resy launches itself against the ramparts of the OpenTable juggernaut and the reservation-platform wars began.
—New York Times, 7 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for pleasantry
Ben Pickman, New York Times, 15 June 2025
Backstage, Nikki Bella shared pleasantries with Natalya, Maxxine Dupri and Iyo Sky.
—Alfred Konuwa, Forbes.com, 9 June 2025
These pleasantries, while seemingly benign, take extra processing power, increasing electricity use and, ultimately, expense.
—William Arruda, Forbes.com, 11 May 2025
That pleasantry starts to end on June 8, 2014, when Resy launches itself against the ramparts of the OpenTable juggernaut and the reservation-platform wars began.
—New York Times, 7 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for pleasantry
Recent Examples of Synonyms for pleasantry
Noun
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In an unprecedented diplomatic gesture, the United Kingdom’s royal family will welcome President Donald Trump for a second state visit this fall.—
Brendan Rascius
July 14,
Miami Herald,
14 July 2025
-
Witnesses described two identical incidents in which a man approached two children, ages 4 and 6, and made inappropriate gestures at them before being chased away by witnesses, police said.—
Jason Green,
Mercury News,
12 July 2025
Noun
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Chinese officials in the eastern province of Zhejiang have put stand-up comics on notice to avoid jokes that could fuel resentment between the sexes.—
Micah McCartney,
MSNBC Newsweek,
24 July 2025
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According to the site, there were allegedly posts that included fat-shaming and rape jokes, among other topics via the Q&A platform Curious Cat.—
Ilana Kaplan,
People.com,
24 July 2025
Noun
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Its roots are Cuban, with its impeccable production — courtesy of husband Emilio Estefan Jr. — bringing yesterday and today to the forefront through the voice of Latin music’s original groundbreaking diva.—
Leila Cobo,
Billboard,
18 July 2025
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Glasses of Whispering Angel and palomas were knocked back — near the end of the party, the rosé had run dry — and mini lobster rolls and chilled shrimp, courtesy of Clam Bar Catering, were sampled.—
Leigh Nordstrom,
Footwear News,
18 July 2025
Noun
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Watch the scene where the three men stop at a bar in D.C. Meadows laughs for the first time — a shy, honest laugh.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
24 July 2025
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Nixon’s spirit drew appreciative laughs from the crowd throughout the competition.—
Calista Oetama,
Sacbee.com,
23 July 2025
Cite this Entry
“Pleasantry.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/pleasantry. Accessed 29 Jul. 2025.
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