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
The small talk from Paul McCartney was killing me.
—
Wesley Stenzel, Entertainment Weekly, 31 Dec. 2025
Venus in Aquarius isn’t about small talk or performative connection.
—Dossé-Via Trenou, Refinery29, 30 Dec. 2025
Far from being mere idle chit-chat, small talk proves to be an invaluable ally in cultivating social health—a precious virtue in a world where hyperconnection increasingly isolates us from one another.
—Jeanne Ballion, Vogue, 27 Dec. 2025
Participants spend a lot of that time making small talk with colleagues, as well as engaging in structured interactions that may include awkward icebreakers.
—Adam M. Kleinbaum, The Conversation, 26 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for small talk
Recent Examples of Synonyms for small talk
Noun
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Join our live chats or ask a question in advance.—
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It’s required to access the chat function.—
Noun
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Try to plan your visit during the Dark Sky Festival, held annually in the late winter or early spring, to meet up with fellow stargazing enthusiasts and hear astronomy talks by park rangers.—
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Beyond money, other issues expected to be hammered out in CBA talks include the length of the season, facility and travel standards, retirement benefits and changes to rookie deals.—
Noun
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Famed for launching Downton Abbey, the network has been courting sale interest for well over a year, but for all the industry chatter and press speculation, ITV’s silence has been stony.—
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In the case of Copeland, has noted that his name has not even been brought up within WWE, even with the online chatter.—
Noun
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When the table talk turns political, Hagains suggests shifting your approach instead of your mood.—
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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.—
Cite this Entry
“Small talk.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/small%20talk. Accessed 13 Jan. 2026.
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