Synonyms for banter
- noun
- verb
Most common
Definitions
- n. 1
Sharp, good-humoured, playful, typically spontaneous conversation.
- n. 2
Good-humoured bits of monologue and/or conversational prompts used in any of a wide range of occupations that must frequently interact with the public (for example, store clerks, salespersons, nurses).
- v. 1
To tease (someone) mildly.
Forms
- Past participle
- bantered
e.g. bantered → jested, chaffed, joked, joshed…
Choose the right word
Banter is the touching upon some fault, weakness, or fancied secret of another in a way half to pique and half to please; badinage is delicate, refined banter.
J. C. Fernald, English Synonyms and Antonyms (1914)
Example sentences
- satire Our world must be a satire of some other world.
- mockery He got hundreds of anonymous letters in mockery.
- taunt The boy continued to taunt his younger brother.
- jesting Long jesting was never good.
- joking Tom laughed before he realized Mary wasn't joking.
By length
- 3 letters
- kid1, sig1
- 4 letters
- joke1, josh1, mock1, quiz1, jest1, twit, razz, jeer1, jape
- 5 letters
- rally2, irony3, roast1, jolly2, tease1, taunt1, chaff1
- 6 letters
- joking2, satire3, deride2
- 7 letters
- sarcasm3, mockery3, jeering2, jesting
- 8 letters
- ridicule3, derision3, badinage, raillery
- 10 letters
- pleasantry3, persiflage
- 12 letters
- conversation4
The small number after each word is its number of syllables (rally2 = 2 syllables).