LAUGHING OFF Synonyms: 28 Similar and Opposite Words

laughing off

verb

present participle of laugh off

as in shrugging off

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Recent Examples of Synonyms for laughing off

Verb

But on Tuesday, senators failed to advance the firms’ top legislative priority, shrugging off the threat of tens of millions of dollars that still could hit them this fall.

— Eleanor Mueller, semafor.com, 15 Sep. 2026
Part of it is that more women are speaking up about hair loss, shrugging off the stigma and reaching out for help.

— Maggie Ryan, Flow Space, 25 Aug. 2026

Definition of shrugging off

Verb

The case accuses the former officials of falsely playing down their knowledge about a laptop the Justice Department says Hunter Biden abandoned at a computer repair shop in 2019.

— ABC News, ABC News, 27 Oct. 2026
Mudryk, a right-footed forward best known for playing down the left, is among Leeds’ preferred options and talks are ongoing with Chelsea, despite an initial knock-back.

— Beren Cross, New York Times, 21 Aug. 2026

Definition of playing down

Verb

Compensation and advancement below the partner level can’t just be about minimizing cost.

— Tim Brackney, Forbes.com, 26 Oct. 2026
Tsai, the Stanford professor, has conducted research on how emotion in American culture puts value on trying to always feel positive and minimizing negativity and sadness.

— ABC News, ABC News, 24 Oct. 2026

Definition of minimizing

Verb

In 2015, she was suspended for a week after a video surfaced of her yelling at and belittling a towing company employee.

— Chuck Schilken, Los Angeles Times, 23 Oct. 2026
People who post puerile, profane or belittling comments are protesters on a virtual street.

— Chris Roemer, Baltimore Sun, 1 Oct. 2026

Definition of belittling

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.

Browse Nearby Words

laughingly

laughing off

laughingstock

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“Laughing off.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/laughing%20off. Accessed 29 Oct. 2026.

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Synonyms of laughing off

verb

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