raillery

noun

ˈrā-lə-rē How to pronounce raillery (audio)
Definition of raillerynext
as in badinage
good-natured teasing or exchanging of clever remarks Luke had to put up with a lot of raillery from his sister the first time he asked a girl for a date

Synonyms & Similar Words

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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 raillery With time, their caustic raillery transforms into sincere attachment. — Charlie Tyson, The Atlantic, 13 May 2021 French’s evocation of place, a rural way of life and overall creepiness are superb, as is the dialogue, a festival of Irish raillery and repartee. — Washington Post, 14 Oct. 2020 Some may feel, in this Trumpus Caesar summer, that such raillery, let alone the underlying idea of trying to understand why Americans have shot presidents, is an untoward or trite provocation. — Jesse Green, New York Times, 13 July 2017
Recent Examples of Synonyms for raillery
  1. badinage
  2. laugh
  3. joke
  4. jesting
  5. banter
  6. persiflage
  7. humor
  8. repartee
Noun
  • The speed and clarity with which Cruise delivers that monologue extends to his interactions with his co-stars in scenes that recall the whip-smart comedies of Preston Sturges in their fast badinage.
    — Jim Hemphill, IndieWire, 30 Sep. 2026
  • Left on their own, boisterous badinage between old school British thespian Shaw and giggly, hyper-ventilating wannabe movie star Dreyfuss has taken hold.
    — Christopher Smith, Oc Register, 10 Mar. 2026
Definition of badinage
Noun
  • This autumn, there are plenty of comedians rounding the country, all primed to provide you with boundless laughs.
    — Justin Klawans, TheWeek, 1 Oct. 2026
  • This laugh-out-loud picture book will delight young readers (and anyone else who’d like several hundred puppies).
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 1 Oct. 2026
Definition of laugh
Noun
  • That’s one of the wobbliest of the timeline-hopping jokes in the show.
    — Jackson McHenry, Vulture, 5 Oct. 2026
  • Painfully aware of this, Shawn waited for one of the drunk old men to comment, heckle, make one of those incomprehensible jokes that drew rude laughter from adults.
    — Rachel Heng, New Yorker, 4 Oct. 2026
Definition of joke
Noun
  • Hudson showed some subtle support for the jesting knocks to her boyfriend by reposting a clip of his final joke shared on Fox News' official X page.
    — Zoey Lyttle, PEOPLE, 18 May 2026
  • No matter what happened, Dunham could not seem to help posting through it, her public persona one of infinite jesting confession.
    — Madeline Leung Coleman, Vulture, 14 Apr. 2026
Definition of jesting
Noun
  • The pace of the Sorkinian banter is meaningful beyond its showiness.
    — Daniel D'Addario, Variety, 2 Oct. 2026
  • The atmosphere is lighter, with music playing and banter flowing.
    — Greg O'Keeffe, New York Times, 2 Oct. 2026
Definition of banter
Noun
  • None of this will keep Republicans and conservatives from attacking the reconciliation bill with smoke, mirrors and persiflage.
    — Michael Hiltzik, Los Angeles Times, 10 Aug. 2022
Definition of persiflage
Noun
  • Fresh Air critic John Powers describes it as a unique blend of creepiness, sarcastic humor and political anger, unlike anything else on TV.
    — Brittney Melton, NPR, 2 Oct. 2026
  • Inextricable to Long’s art, though, is a self-awareness and acerbic wit that elevates the narrative and reminds us that humor is integral to survival, too.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 2 Oct. 2026
Definition of humor
Noun
  • Her popular partner is Coyotec — an artificial intelligence bot programmed to mimic a radio repartee.
    — Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 2 Oct. 2026
  • His dialogue in particular serves as a distinctive through line, with pages of repartee in an off-kilter, slightly formal register flowing through all of his novels.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 1 Oct. 2026
Definition of repartee

Browse Nearby Words

railings
raillery
railroad
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Cite this Entry

“Raillery.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/raillery. Accessed 10 Oct. 2026.

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