schmooze

7 synonyms for schmooze, grouped by meaning and by how common each one is.

Verb — To chat in a friendly, informal way, often to network or gain favor.

Synonyms

Everyday swaps

Common words most readers know — safe in any writing.

chat

Rare, literary or technical

Precise, but they will stand out — check the sense before using one.

jawbone confab shmooze shmoose schmoose confabulation

Synonyms by Meaning

1. verb

To chat in a friendly, informal way, often to network or gain favor.

“He spent the whole party schmoozing with potential investors.”

chat jawbone confab shmooze shmoose schmoose confabulation

2. noun

A casual, friendly conversation aimed at building a connection or gaining an advantage.

“After the meeting there was time for a quick schmooze over coffee.”

confabulation schmoose confab chat

How to use schmooze

The word patterns that sound natural to a native speaker.

schmooze with clients schmooze investors

Informal; often used slightly disapprovingly, implying the friendliness is calculated.

Etymology

From Yiddish shmues ("talk, chat"), from Hebrew shemu'ot ("rumors, news").

Full origin of schmooze →

Frequently asked questions

What does “schmooze” mean?

The word “schmooze” means to chat in a friendly, informal way, often to network or gain favor. In plain terms, making friendly small talk, often with an eye toward a favor or business advantage.

How do you pronounce “schmooze”?

“Schmooze” is pronounced shmooz (/ʃmuːz/ in IPA).

How do you use “schmooze” in a sentence?

Here is “schmooze” used in a sentence: “After the meeting there was time for a quick schmooze over coffee.”

What part of speech is “schmooze”?

Depending on how it is used, “schmooze” can be a verb and a noun.

Where does the word “schmooze” come from?

The word “schmooze” comes from Hebrew. From Yiddish shmues ("talk, chat"), from Hebrew shemu'ot ("rumors, news").

How many meanings does “schmooze” have?

“Schmooze” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: to chat in a friendly, informal way, often to network or gain favor.

People also searched

chat confab shmoose jawbone schmoose confabulation

Nearby words

← Back to the full definition of schmooze