It was then the custom, to prevent any coarse pleasantry which old times perhaps admitted, that the key of the nuptial chamber should be entrusted to the bridesman.
Source: tatoeba (7752102)
Pleasantry
/ˈplɛzəntɹi/
Synonyms for "pleasantry" (144 found)
Ranked by relevance and common usage.
Closest matches (29)
affabilityagile witagreeabilityagreeablenessamenityamiabilityamicabilityaphorismapothegmatticismbadinagebanterblack humorblissblissfulnessbon motboutadebright ideabright thoughtbrilliance
Show 6 more words
Noun(3 words)
Strong matches (43)
compatibilitycomplaisanceconceitcongenialitycordialitycrackdry witenjoyablenessepigramespritexchangefacetiaefacetiousnessfarcefelicitousnessflash of witflight of witfoolingfooling aroundfunniness
Show 18 more words
genialitygibegive-and-takegood-natured bantergoodlinessgoodnessgraciousnesshappy thoughtharmless teasingharmoniousnesshumorhumorousnessironyjapejestjivejocosenessjocularity
Noun(5 words)
Related words (72)
jokejokingjoshjoshingkeen-wittednesskeennesskiddingkidding aroundlampoonmellifluousnessmellownessmotnasty cracknicenessnimble witnimble-wittednessparodypersiflageplay of witpleasance
Show 48 more words
pleasantnesspleasingnesspleasurabilitypleasurablenesspleasurepleasurefulnesspretty witpungencyquick witquick-wittednessquipquips and cranksrailleryrallyingrapportready witreparteeretortridiculeripostesallysaltsaltinesssarcasmsatiresavor of witscintillationsharpnessslapstickslapstick humorsmart cracksmart sayingsmartnesssnappy comebacksportsquibstroke of witsubtle witsweetnesstravestyturn of thoughttwitvisual humorwelcomenesswisecrackwitwitticismwittiness
Noun(4 words)
Choosing the right synonym
- Closest matches in this entry: affability, agile wit, agreeability, agreeableness, amenity.
- Sentence evidence is available for pleasantry, so synonym choice can be checked against real usage rather than a flat word list.
- Ranking signals come from moby, opengloss, derived_reverse.
Synonym selection checklist
- Match the part of speech before comparing meanings.
- Check whether the synonym changes intensity, formality, or emotional tone.
- Read the replacement inside the full sentence, not just beside "pleasantry".
- Prefer the clearest word over the most unusual word when writing for speed or comprehension.
When not to replace "pleasantry"
Keep "pleasantry" when the sentence already sounds natural, when a synonym would add unintended emphasis, or when readers need the most familiar wording. A synonym should clarify or sharpen the message, not simply make the sentence look more varied.
If two options seem close, choose the one that best matches the audience and purpose of the sentence.
Replacement workflow
1. Preserve meaning
Choose a synonym only if it keeps the core idea of "pleasantry" intact in the sentence you are editing.
2. Tune tone
Check whether the replacement sounds more formal, casual, emotional, technical, or forceful than the original word.
3. Re-read context
Read the full sentence after the swap. Keep the synonym only when the sentence becomes clearer or more precise.
Review note: Synonym lists are ranked with lexical data and reviewed for practical writing value. Use the comparison notes, sentence evidence, and source labels together; a high-ranking synonym can still be wrong when the audience, register, or grammar changes.
Final fit check
After choosing a replacement for "pleasantry", read the sentence once for meaning and once for rhythm. The best synonym should feel natural in the full sentence, not only accurate in a word list.
If the synonym makes the sentence slower, vaguer, or more dramatic than intended, keep "pleasantry" or choose a simpler alternative from the closest-match group.
Related word relations
OpenGloss and ConceptNet supply richer edges like generalizations, collocations, and derivations.
More general
11 entriescommunicationconversationdiplomacyetiquettejestjocularityjokeprotocolsocial behaviorsocial ritualtalk
More specific
9 entriesCollocations
6 entriescasual pleasantrycommon pleasantriesformal pleasantryopening pleasantrypolite pleasantrysocial pleasantries
Inflections
1 entriesDerivations
1 entriesSample sentences
4 total sentences available.
Some of these were letters expressing the name of the owner of all this extravagance; or the initials of various fair Roman dames, a very gallant pleasantry of young Pliny.
Source: tatoeba (11615587)
Charlie Mulgrew could easily have been shown two yellow cards by a stricter referee and amid all the usual Anglo-Scottish pleasantries, the two sets of fans put an awful lot of effort into trying to drown out one another’s national anthems.
Source: wiktionary
C.O.O: "The office was quite close to the home of our youth—" CHRM: "Thomas, your trip to Suitopia was not meant to be for pleasantries." C.O.O: "No… I know… But I was close by, so I went to visit them…" CHRM: "You should not have. You and I both know the way they are."
Source: wiktionary
Common questions
What are the closest synonyms for "pleasantry"?
Closest matches include affability, agile wit, agreeability, agreeableness, amenity.
How should I check whether a synonym fits "pleasantry"?
Compare the replacement against real sentence context. This entry includes sample sentences so you can check tone, grammar, and meaning before swapping words.