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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Recent Examples of small talk
Branch out in conversations with your kids: Amid daily small talk, Dr. Mohr Lone found value in bringing up philosophical concepts with her sons.
—
Alana Bracken, Parents, 28 Feb. 2025
Was that a form of small talk for children, when feelings that were too intense could be covered up more easily than articulated?
—Yiyun Li, The New Yorker, 9 Mar. 2025
For example, couples looking to strengthen their communication skills might agree on weekly 10-minute calls, just to see if the break needs to be extended or shortened—no small talk or life updates.
—Jenna Ryu, SELF, 24 Feb. 2025
Is even the smallest of small talk fraught with deception?
—Michael Phillips, Chicago Tribune, 13 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for small talk
Alana Bracken, Parents, 28 Feb. 2025
Was that a form of small talk for children, when feelings that were too intense could be covered up more easily than articulated?
—Yiyun Li, The New Yorker, 9 Mar. 2025
For example, couples looking to strengthen their communication skills might agree on weekly 10-minute calls, just to see if the break needs to be extended or shortened—no small talk or life updates.
—Jenna Ryu, SELF, 24 Feb. 2025
Is even the smallest of small talk fraught with deception?
—Michael Phillips, Chicago Tribune, 13 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for small talk
Recent Examples of Synonyms for small talk
Noun
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Murdoch, now Isomorphic’s president, told CNBC in an interview by video chat.—
Hayden Field,
CNBC,
9 Apr. 2025
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Feel free to copy and paste it to your pre-baby-meeting group chats, or use it as a jumping off point for your own personal message.—
Beth Ann Mayer,
Parents,
9 Apr. 2025
Noun
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Russia and Ukraine haven't held direct talks in years.—
USA Today,
USA Today,
22 Apr. 2025
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The Iranian regime is enjoying the air of legitimacy granted to it by the Trump administration’s sudden pivot to direct talks with Tehran over its nuclear program.—
Noah Rothman,
National Review,
21 Apr. 2025
Noun
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Related Articles Over the weekend, there was a lot of online chatter about Elliott either closing his business or selling it to Authentic Brands Group.—
Jean E. Palmieri,
Footwear News,
8 Apr. 2025
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The last week has been a lot of chatter on the matter.—
Victoria Uwumarogie,
Essence,
7 Apr. 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
Cite this Entry
“Small talk.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/small%20talk. Accessed 24 Apr. 2025.
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