as in chat
friendly, informal conversation or an instance of this
at the corporate get-together we made the obligatory small talk with some people from the home office
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of small talk
These intimate settings broke through the exhausting small talk and allowed for true conversation.
—
Acacia Gabriel, Travel + Leisure, 23 Dec. 2024
Bob hitches a ride to New York in the rear of a station wagon, the driver unknown, the small talk between them nonexistent, and is dropped off at the open maw of a tunnel.
—Richard Brody, The New Yorker, 19 Dec. 2024
During Jacob Quillan’s final season at Quinnipiac University, head coach Rand Pecknold would often pass by his No. 1 centre before practice and make small talk before shaking his head.
—Joshua Kloke, The Athletic, 25 Jan. 2025
Learn how to smile, make small talk, and put yourself out there.
—Sho Dewan, Forbes, 20 Jan. 2025
See all Example Sentences for small talk 
Acacia Gabriel, Travel + Leisure, 23 Dec. 2024
Bob hitches a ride to New York in the rear of a station wagon, the driver unknown, the small talk between them nonexistent, and is dropped off at the open maw of a tunnel.
—Richard Brody, The New Yorker, 19 Dec. 2024
During Jacob Quillan’s final season at Quinnipiac University, head coach Rand Pecknold would often pass by his No. 1 centre before practice and make small talk before shaking his head.
—Joshua Kloke, The Athletic, 25 Jan. 2025
Learn how to smile, make small talk, and put yourself out there.
—Sho Dewan, Forbes, 20 Jan. 2025
See all Example Sentences for small talk
Recent Examples of Synonyms for small talk
Noun
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Nearly three months after Drew Barrymore's interview with Martha Stewart went viral after the lifestyle guru playfully pushed away the talk show host during their chat, the 49-year-old actress shared her reaction.—
Christina Dugan Ramirez,
Fox News,
6 Feb. 2025
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In her chat with PEOPLE, McRae also revealed her beauty routine while on tour.—
Rachel DeSantis,
People.com,
5 Feb. 2025
Noun
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OpenAI, which has been on a yearslong money-raising frenzy, is said to be in talks with the Japanese conglomerate SoftBank for an investment of up to $25 billion.—
Cecilia Kang,
New York Times,
8 Feb. 2025
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The documentary also featured Steve Bannon, Rudy Giuliani, and Michael Flynn, who resigned in 2017 over false statements about talks with Russia's ambassador.—
Yaakov Katz,
Newsweek,
8 Feb. 2025
Noun
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When the crowd broke into chatter and shocked reactions, Gomez hung her head.—
Kaitlyn Huamani,
Los Angeles Times,
11 Feb. 2025
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In Lorne Michaels’ world, a little loose chatter goes a long way.—
Brian Steinberg,
Variety,
10 Feb. 2025
Noun
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Each monthly box includes three recipe guides, skill lessons, a kitchen tool, a kitchen project, an apron patch, table talk cards, and a grocery list.—
Jessica Booth,
Parents,
16 Dec. 2024
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Almost everything about Thanksgiving, from travel to table talk about politics, has the potential to become fraught.—
Kendra Nordin Beato,
The Christian Science Monitor,
26 Nov. 2024
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Cite this Entry
“Small talk.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/small%20talk. Accessed 16 Feb. 2025.
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