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pleasantry

[plez-uhn-tree] / ˈplɛz ən tri /


Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

See Examples For:

It’s unclear if this is a plea or a pleasantry.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Mar. 27, 2026

Norm doesn’t treat the inquiry — “How’s the world treating you, Norm?” — as perfunctory pleasantry.

From Los Angeles Times ● May 21, 2025

Suddenly things that seem kind of nice because they are little dashes of pleasantry in what may be an otherwise sterile work environment are relatively banal in the context of working from home.

From New York Times ● Apr. 14, 2022

Murray seemed embarrassed, mumbled some pleasantry, then turned away.

From Scientific American ● Jun. 6, 2019

Patrolman Mancuso was too startled by the monstrous flannel nightshirt to reply to Ignatius’ pleasantry.

From "A Confederacy of Dunces" by John Kennedy Toole

Together for the better part of four decades, L7 did not faff around with small talk and pleasantries: They took the stage and rocked your face off.

From Salon ● Jul. 21, 2026

Twenty years ago, founders proudly eschewed fashion and decorum, too busy writing code and devising a new world order to bother with pleasantries, like basic manners and French cuffs.

From The Wall Street Journal ● May 18, 2026

He could order in French and exchange pleasantries with an elderly French waiter who seemed to live there.

From Los Angeles Times ● Mar. 26, 2026

They exchanged pleasantries with Mrs. Sutherland, she departed, and the men got straight down to business.

From Slate ● Dec. 1, 2025

After a few more pleasantries and her urging me to convey her respects to my mother, she left.

From "The Evolution of Calpurnia Tate" by Jacqueline Kelly




Vocabulary lists containing pleasantry


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