LAUGHING Synonyms: 237 Similar and Opposite Words

laughing 1 of 3

adjective

as in merry

indicative of or marked by high spirits or good humor the satisfying comedy put us in a laughing mood for the rest of the evening

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

laughing

2 of 3

noun

as in smiling

Related Words

Dissimilar Words

laughing

3 of 3

verb

present participle of laugh

as in giggling

to show mirth with an explosive vocal sound everyone laughed when the clown dramatically slipped and fell

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in sneering

to express scornful amusement by means of facial contortions you're going to try out for the football team? Don't make me laugh!

Synonyms & Similar Words

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 laughing

Noun

The thought of coworkers open-mouthed laughing is enough to jar anyone awake. — Alexandra Hildreth, Vogue, 24 July 2026 A lot of shouting, a lot of laughing, a lot of talk. — Jacob Whitehead, New York Times, 26 June 2026 Keith moved into the center of the balcony, posing and laughing. — Danielle Parker, CBS News, 19 June 2026 Mira and two friends moved to a low wall and huddled around their own smartwatches, whispering and laughing. — Anna Wiener, New Yorker, 4 May 2026 The laughing becomes infectious. — Omar L. Gallaga, Los Angeles Times, 8 Mar. 2026 Belt It Out at Sweet Caroline Karaoke Bar If your idea of a great date involves a little chaos, a lot of laughing, and maybe a surprisingly decent duet, Sweet Caroline Karaoke Bar is calling your name. — Lauren Schuster, Miami Herald, 6 Mar. 2026 The former competitive cheerleader said the laughing was an act of misogyny. — Jay Stahl, USA Today, 24 Feb. 2026 Harbour and Brown arrived together on the red carpet for the premiere of the latest season and were captured on camera laughing, hugging each other and posing for photos. — Kimberlee Speakman, PEOPLE, 7 Nov. 2025

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, 21 Oct. 2026 Less than half a mile away, business owner Sierra Jordan told CNN the familiar sound of children laughing and playing outside at recess gave way to the frantic arrival of ambulances. — Alaa Elassar, CNN Money, 17 Oct. 2026 At-large Councilwoman Victoria Watlington posted an Instagram video of herself laughing about the situation the morning after the meeting. — Nick Sullivan, Charlotte Observer, 17 Oct. 2026 While the pair kept PDA to a minimum, Johnson was photographed laughing at something the musician had said and gazing at him. — Lara Walsh, InStyle, 17 Oct. 2026 This group of people laughing, arguing, and reminiscing about a great era of American history—and also about members of their cohort who were long gone—recaptured lightning in a bottle. — Stephanie Zacharek, Time, 16 Oct. 2026 Lamont’s fellow Democrats are seen laughing and smiling in the video. — Christopher Keating, Hartford Courant, 14 Oct. 2026 During one sequence, Swift sits in her director’s chair with Kelce standing behind her, smiling and laughing with his hands lovingly holding her arms. — Hannah Dailey, Billboard, 13 Oct. 2026

Recent Examples of Synonyms for laughing

Adjective

Rather than getting stuck or trying to figure out a way to navigate around an obstacle, the robot can simply leap over it and continue on its merry way.

— New Atlas, New Atlas, 16 Oct. 2026
After tuning up, Batiste led his merry band of musicians to their stage.

— Marc Lieberman, CBS News, 11 Oct. 2026

Definition of merry

Noun

In the post, De Laurentiis shared an image of Jade, 18, sitting on her dorm bed holding Radiohead’s In Rainbows record and smiling.

— Chiara Kim, PEOPLE, 31 Aug. 2026
The boos were more scattered and barely audible amidst the applause and cheers, which grew louder when the ballpark’s video boards showed the 2018 champ smiling, clapping, and waving from the visitors’ dugout.

— Gabrielle Starr, Boston Herald, 21 Aug. 2026

Definition of smiling

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

If traditional noir drew much of its energy from sneering with style at America’s sunny master narratives, those narratives have largely broken down, as has the homogenous mass-media ecosystem that endlessly recirculated them.

— Peter C. Baker, New Yorker, 5 Aug. 2026
But the Velvets were sneering at the false dichotomy between those things back in the ’60s.

— Spencer Kornhaber, The Atlantic, 30 July 2026

Definition of sneering

Adjective

The track opens with a sprinkle of piano before morphing into a jolly celebration that’s really going to hit this holiday season.

— Angie Martoccio, Rolling Stone, 25 Sep. 2026
Both his suggestion and the jolly appreciation seem out of tune with the situation ‘far from home’, which may be a military manoeuvre involving mock battles and bayonet practice, or a preparation for actual combat.

— Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 11 Aug. 2026

Definition of jolly

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

Adjective

Featuring 36 pieces spanning handbags, jewelry, and footwear, the festive edit has something for everyone on your list, from the fabulous women in your life to the equally stylish men.

— Laura Jackson, Vogue, 27 Oct. 2026
It was also realized that having festive crowds enjoying the sight of a someone being killed was unseemly, exposing the base instincts that lie within us.

— Dr. Michael Good, Hartford Courant, 22 Oct. 2026

Definition of festive

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

Browse Nearby Words

laughers

laughing

laughing (at)

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Style

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

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Synonyms of laughing

adjective

noun

verb

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