chortle 1 of 2

noun

Definition of chortlenext
as in chuckle
an explosive sound that is a sign of amusement the joke provoked a sudden chortle from a bystander

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

chortle

2 of 2

verb

ˈchȯr-tᵊl How to pronounce chortle (audio)
as in to laugh
to show mirth with an explosive vocal sound audiences might chortle gently during the movie's amusing bits, but there are few knee-slappers

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of chortle
Noun
Yoda made a slight sound of dissatisfaction, a grumbling chortle. — Dalton Ross, EW.com, 29 May 2025 The comment evoked a chortle from Prasher, whose typical manner combines irony and earthiness. — Yudhijit Bhattacharjee, Discover Magazine, 17 July 2011
Verb
There were no knowing winks to the camera, no pause for an unseen audience to chortle at Stan's misfortune. — Chris McMullen, Space.com, 2 Aug. 2025 Regime leaders must be chortling over their surprising and unearned new international legitimacy. — Daniel B. Shapiro, The Atlantic, 17 June 2026 See All Example Sentences for chortle
Recent Examples of Synonyms for chortle
  1. chuckle
  2. laugh
  3. laughter
  4. giggle
  5. snicker
Noun
  • There was a point in Patrick Paul’s ascension last season where his smirk, his hearty chuckles irritated, if not frustrated his opponents to the point of anger.
    — Omar Kelly, Miami Herald, 26 June 2026
  • For one, our laughs sound different based on context — from a polite chuckle among colleagues to a full-bodied guffaw with close friends.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 25 June 2026
Definition of chuckle
Verb
  • Swift shared a glimpse of the fun on Instagram by posting some Polaroids of them laughing, hugging and enjoying red, white and blue Popsicles.
    — Joyann Jeffrey, PEOPLE, 4 July 2026
  • England would be a laughing stock (and already home) without him.
    — Phil Hay, New York Times, 4 July 2026
Definition of laugh
Noun
  • He’s long delved into the dark corners of his lived and theoretical experience, pushing toward sticky, disquieting ideas that sent ripples of nervous laughter through a crowd unable to reject his reasoning.
    — Ben Travers, IndieWire, 30 June 2026
  • If philosophy begins in wonder, trenchant social drama seems to start in laughter.
    — Theater Critic, Los Angeles Times, 29 June 2026
Definition of laughter
Verb
  • On a recent afternoon outside the temple in central Kerala, Raman stood motionless as two children played, giggling and hugging its trunk.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 3 July 2026
  • Jason got a good giggle out of his little brother while donning a Lucha Libre mask ahead of filming New Heights Live in LA in June.
    — Stephanie Sengwe, PEOPLE, 2 July 2026
Definition of giggle
Noun
  • The grown-ups in the audience snicker.
    — Amy Nicholson, Los Angeles Times, 3 June 2026
  • There were snickers from some of the other students, including a tall and lank-haired kid whose name Adele didn’t know.
    — Jonathan Franzen, New Yorker, 1 June 2026
Definition of snicker

Browse Nearby Words

chorography
chortle
chortled
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Cite this Entry

“Chortle.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/chortle. Accessed 7 Jul. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on chortle

Nglish: Translation of chortle for Spanish Speakers

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