How to Use pleasantry in a Sentence

pleasantry

noun
  • For now, the next steps in the whirlwind process will be pleasantries.
    — Gregg Re, Fox News, 10 July 2018
  • Ortiz exchanged brief pleasantries with the fan and shook his hand.
    — Emily Sweeney, BostonGlobe.com, 10 June 2019
  • Lola Young isn’t one for pleasantries.
    — Maura Johnston, Rolling Stone, 19 Sep. 2025
  • Highs should get to the low-to-mid 70s, so enjoy the last of this stretch of pleasantry.
    — Washington Post, 8 Nov. 2020
  • The first rule about dealing with dumb remarks is to refuse to accept them as mere pleasantries.
    — Judith Martin, Washington Post, 23 Sep. 2019
  • After some terse catching-up pleasantries, Mike gets to the point.
    — Noel Murray, Vulture, 23 June 2024
  • There were no customary pleasantries, just deep inhales of breath.
    — Jacob Tanswell, The Athletic, 21 Jan. 2025
  • Though his bullish demeanor loomed large, Roy had soft spots for life’s simple pleasantries.
    — Meredith Blake, Los Angeles Times, 9 Apr. 2023
  • Safer streets, high-class restaurants and simple pleasantries have emerged in recent years.
    — Morgan Fischer, The Arizona Republic, 22 Apr. 2024
  • The two were quick to exchange pleasantries, first on the turf and later on social media.
    — Shawn McFarland, courant.com, 29 June 2018
  • Their light, harmony-laden fare evokes blue-sky airiness, front-porch pleasantries and all-ages barn dances.
    — Bob Gendron, Chicago Tribune, 8 July 2024
  • Cohen reached out asking to talk, but Epstein was done with pleasantries.
    — Eva Roytburg, Fortune, 14 Mar. 2026
  • Shed are the pleasantries and the uncomfortable pants of the evening prior.
    — Li Goldstein, Bon Appétit, 18 Nov. 2023
  • Normally, this would not be the time for pleasantries, but Rick smirks anyway.
    — Laura Bradley, HWD, 12 Feb. 2017
  • There was no discussion, even, of the rainy weather, and few pleasantries were exchanged.
    — Literary Hub, 1 July 2025
  • After checking their badges, the police exchange pleasantries with the agents and leave.
    — Ali Bauman, CBS News, 6 Mar. 2026
  • While where reporters were present, the two leaders only exchanged pleasantries.
    — Michelle L. Price, Chicago Tribune, 6 Feb. 2026
  • While reporters were present, the two leaders only exchanged pleasantries.
    — Michelle L. Price, Arkansas Online, 7 Feb. 2026
  • Some landscaping outside, trees planted in front of the building, even gave it an air of false pleasantry.
    — San Diego Union-Tribune, 23 Sep. 2020
  • When the match ended, Horan and van de Donk exchanged pleasantries and hugged.
    — Sean Gregory, Time, 27 July 2023
  • Most Q&As bore us—stiff, formal things full of pleasantries and PR.
    — Wired Staff, WIRED, 30 Dec. 2023
  • Flagg and James exchanged pleasantries before and after the game, shaking hands twice on the court.
    — Mike Curtis, Dallas Morning News, 5 Apr. 2026
  • The white one with scraggly, shoulder-length hair skipped pleasantries and asked with patent urgency for water.
    — Denver Nicks, Rolling Stone, 14 Sep. 2025
  • Still, smiles were abundant, pleasantries were freely exchanged, and expectation was in the air.
    — Phillip Morris, cleveland, 22 Dec. 2019
  • What's clear is Stephenson isn't trying to be friends, or exchange pleasantries with James any time soon.
    — J. Michael, Indianapolis Star, 15 Apr. 2018
  • An attempt to directly involve Woods in the project never got past the pleasantry phase.
    — Chris Brodeur, courant.com, 19 Apr. 2018
  • This is someone who felt all pleasantries had been dispensed with after typing the title of a book and the full name of its author.
    — Sloane Crosley, The New Yorker, 1 Nov. 2024
  • Accomplish any tasks that are genuinely necessary, but leave room for pleasantries and small talk too.
    — Tarot.com, Baltimore Sun, 18 Feb. 2026
  • Both the coffee meeting and the phone call were just exchange of pleasantries, Archer told lawmakers.
    — Mike Levine, ABC News, 28 Sep. 2023
  • As the ladies settle in and gather for lunch, casual pleasantries quickly give way to playful shade—par for the course with this group.
    — Shelby Stewart, Essence, 16 Dec. 2024

Some of these examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'pleasantry.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Last Updated: