bantering
Trading friendly jabs
Bantering is engaging in banter—playful, teasing exchange meant to amuse rather than wound.
The word often appears as an adjective describing tone: a bantering remark, in a bantering way.
It suggests wit and lightness, conversation as sport rather than substance.
Brief witty remarks
- reparteeQuick, clever conversation
- wordplayVerbal wit techniques
- riposteSwift clever reply
- retortQuick, cutting reply
comeback · sallies · persiflage · badinage · raillery · bon mot · cleverness · one-liners
Affectionate verbal teasing
- chaffingMocking in jest
- jibingMatching in agreement
- mockingScornfully imitating or ridiculing
- tauntingInsulting to provoke
needling · goading · roasting · ragging · joshing · kidding · razzing · twitting
Inclined to jest
- frolicsomeInclined to merriment
- lightheartedCheerful and without worry
- mischievousPlayfully causing trouble
- sportiveFond of games
roguish · impish · whimsical · prankish · waggish · tongue-in-cheek · flirtatious · coy
Peacefully cooperative in manner
- cordialWarmly friendly manner
- congenialFriendly and likable
- chummyWarmly familiar, informal
- companionableFriendly and agreeable
sociable · affable · warm · rapport · camaraderie · easygoing · good-natured · amiable
quips
Brief witty remarks
retort · comeback · sallies · persiflage · badinage · raillery · bon mot · cleverness · one-liners · zingers
ribbing
Affectionate verbal teasing
taunting · needling · goading · roasting · ragging · joshing · kidding · razzing · twitting · poking fun
jocular
Inclined to jest
- frolicsomeInclined to merriment
- lightheartedCheerful and without worry
- mischievousPlayfully causing trouble
sportive · roguish · impish · whimsical · prankish · waggish · tongue-in-cheek · flirtatious · coy · frisky
amicable
Peacefully cooperative in manner
companionable · sociable · affable · warm · rapport · camaraderie · easygoing · good-natured · amiable · relaxed
mirthful
Full of merriment
blithe · buoyant · ebullient · effervescent · jaunty · chipper · gleeful · spirited · good-humored · jolly
- fooling aroundkidding, jesting, fooling, teasing, joshing
- talkingtalking, chatting, conversing, gabbing, jabbering
- teasingtease, teasing, rib, ribbing, josh
- messing aroundfooling, goofing, goofing off, horsing around, messing with
- conversationlistening, talk, talking, chat, speaking
- funnyfunny, comical, hilarious, humorous, amusing
banteringinsulting
Showing contempt through words
hostile · quarreling · arguing · attacking · berating
banteringhumorless
Without wit or levity
humourless · unhumorous · mirthless · dour · dull