1
as in gesture
an act or utterance that is a customary show of good manners
"how are you" is merely a social pleasantry
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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
In other cases, Trump exchanged pleasantries with other leaders who have been working on parallel efforts to help resolve the Ukraine war.
—
Catherine Nicholls, CNN Money, 26 Apr. 2025
Cameras captured Trump and Obama at Washington National Cathedral exchanging pleasantries, with Obama laughing at something the incoming president was saying.
—Brett Samuels, The Hill, 9 Jan. 2025
After exchanging pleasantries and a quick inquiry about his ex-wife’s new boyfriend, Coop’s boss Jack Bailey (Corbin Bernsen) reveals the real reason for their conversation.
—Stephanie Wenger, People.com, 10 Apr. 2025
He’s also increased communication and exchanged pleasantries with Russian President Vladimir Putin and Chinese President Xi Jinping.
—Lauren Irwin, The Hill, 17 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for pleasantry
Catherine Nicholls, CNN Money, 26 Apr. 2025
Cameras captured Trump and Obama at Washington National Cathedral exchanging pleasantries, with Obama laughing at something the incoming president was saying.
—Brett Samuels, The Hill, 9 Jan. 2025
After exchanging pleasantries and a quick inquiry about his ex-wife’s new boyfriend, Coop’s boss Jack Bailey (Corbin Bernsen) reveals the real reason for their conversation.
—Stephanie Wenger, People.com, 10 Apr. 2025
He’s also increased communication and exchanged pleasantries with Russian President Vladimir Putin and Chinese President Xi Jinping.
—Lauren Irwin, The Hill, 17 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for pleasantry
Recent Examples of Synonyms for pleasantry
Noun
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The gesture, broadcast everywhere locally, sent a clear signal to the outside world.—
Anthony Slater,
New York Times,
29 May 2025
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Additionally, the avatar can pass the human test by using gestures, body language, and other elements of human interaction.—
Kolawole Samuel Adebayo,
Forbes.com,
29 May 2025
Noun
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Surrounded by her animals at home, Lin watched re-runs of The Big Bang Theory, practicing the cadence of the words, the rising sound of a joke, the pacing of each phrase.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
6 June 2025
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The site’s users took great joy in watching the feud in real time, responding to the showdown between the president and the world’s wealthiest man with jokes and memes.—
Dani Di Placido,
Forbes.com,
6 June 2025
Noun
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This obsession recently led me to the most fabulous adventure in the South of France, courtesy of Matiere Premiere.—
Stixx Mathews,
Essence,
2 June 2025
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That is the likely expectation on Wall Street courtesy of higher production from OPEC+ as well as non-OPEC producers like the U.S., Brazil, Canada and Guyana.—
Gaurav Sharma,
Forbes.com,
2 June 2025
Noun
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There are a lot of fun moments during the annual Big Slick weekend in Kansas City, and the laughs are shared by the celebrities who take part as well as the audience at the softball game and the gala.—
Pete Grathoff,
Kansas City Star,
5 June 2025
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If a client senses that every friendly laugh and personal anecdote was just bait on the hook, the entire relationship collapses into a transaction.—
Alexander Puutio,
Forbes.com,
4 June 2025
Cite this Entry
“Pleasantry.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/pleasantry. Accessed 10 Jun. 2025.
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