Zinger

A clever, striking remark or final line.

Reach for it when praising verbal impact when the wit does not depend on cruelty

The final line was a zinger that made the whole audience laugh.

• playful

  one-liner

  when a short self-contained joke is the form

  not when A zinger can be a pointed response or conclusion rather than a joke.

• everyday

  comeback

  when a quick reply answers an insult or challenge

  not when A comeback requires a prior remark and can be hostile.

• professional

  punchline

  when the ending delivers a joke's main effect

  not when A punchline belongs to a joke structure, while a zinger can appear anywhere.

• literary

  quip

  when a brief clever remark is lightly amusing

  not when A quip is usually gentler and less forceful than a zinger.

Something unusually impressive, surprising, or effective.

Reach for it when giving informal praise to a standout result or feature

The hidden rooftop garden was the tour's final zinger.

• playful

  knockout

  when visual or performance impact is exceptional

  not when Knockout can objectify a person and is too slangy for careful assessment.

• playful

  showstopper

  when one feature commands attention

  not when Showstopper emphasizes spectacle and is stronger than many impressive zingers.

• warm

  standout

  when one item clearly distinguishes itself

  not when A standout can be unusual without producing surprise or impact.

• formal

  triumph

  when success after difficulty is the basis for praise

  not when Triumph is grander and does not capture a zinger's surprising twist.

• platitude
• dud
• letdown
• flop

• deliver a zinger

  She could deliver a zinger without turning a colleague into the joke.

• final zinger

  The essay's final zinger exposes the cost hidden in the slogan.

• real zinger

  The restored ceiling is a real zinger when the lights come on.

Zinger can also mean a cutting insult. Praise the wit only when its target and effect are fair.