CHORTLING Synonyms: 34 Similar and Opposite Words

chortling

verb

present participle of chortle

as in laughing

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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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 chortling Regime leaders must be chortling over their surprising and unearned new international legitimacy. — Daniel B. Shapiro, The Atlantic, 17 June 2026 The nightingale flew around the fox’s head, the two of them chortling in their own indiscernible ways. — Hazlitt, 19 Nov. 2025 Against all of this allegedly heady stuff, the score—by Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross—intentionally jars us from encroaching drowsiness with chortling woodwinds and shardlike piano chords that are the aural equivalent of jagged Plexiglass off-cuts. — Stephanie Zacharek, Time, 29 Aug. 2025

Recent Examples of Synonyms for chortling

Verb

Curiously, the same thing happened to Altobelli, and the two of us ended up breaking into a clamorous chorus of laughter, confirming our complicity, especially when laughing at one of our idols.

— J. B. MacKinnon, Harpers Magazine, 27 Oct. 2026
Unwilling to risk more men, Bran is forced to leave his crewmate there, laughing madly on the distant shore.

— Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 21 Oct. 2026

Definition of laughing

Verb

Last episode, Jelly and Devin were out there giggling on the beach like Will and Grace with sand stuck in their coochies.

— Brian Moylan, Vulture, 22 Oct. 2026
During her September 30 visit with West Sussex Minibus, a volunteer transport organization in England that works to combat social isolation, Kate was photographed locking eyes and giggling with members of the local community.

— Rachel Burchfield, InStyle, 18 Oct. 2026

Definition of giggling

Verb

The Tío Xavier persona that Becerra supporters have trotted out — a kind, chuckling sage — isn’t what California needs right now.

— Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 1 Oct. 2026
Cubs pitcher David Peterson was coming out of the bullpen to pitch in the eighth inning after the fight took place, and the umpires were chuckling.

— Paul Sullivan, Chicago Tribune, 19 Aug. 2026

Definition of chuckling

Verb

Warren joked, as several audience members had been screaming to hear his hit during his set.

— Althea Legaspi, Rolling Stone, 24 Oct. 2026
Four pledges at a Texas State University fraternity were arrested on Tuesday after an 18-year-old was allegedly forced into a pickup truck and heard screaming, according to police.

— Adam Sabes, FOXNews.com, 23 Oct. 2026

Definition of screaming

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chortles

chortling

chorus

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“Chortling.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/chortling. Accessed 28 Oct. 2026.

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Synonyms of chortling

verb

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