as in laughter
an explosive sound that is a sign of amusement
humorous anecdotes that are likely to evoke lots of smiles but few belly laughs
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Recent Examples of belly laugh
Without a talented ad agency behind you, a good rule of thumb is to go for clever humor that makes people smile or chuckle instead of trying for a side-splitting belly laugh.
—
Expert Panel®, Forbes, 29 Oct. 2024
Morrison misses his late partner’s gigantic belly laugh that would engulf everything in its orbit.
—Charles McNulty, Los Angeles Times, 4 Oct. 2024
Nothing was off-limits in Mad, a newsstand stalwart that would reach peak annual sales in the 1970s of 2.5 million issues by delivering belly laughs and self-satisfaction to America’s class clowns through cartoons, parodies, sarcastic characters and an unending stream of gross-out gags.
—Patrick Sauer, Smithsonian Magazine, 17 Sep. 2024
Just try your best to separate big belly laughs from bites of food, and save the call to mom for when you’re entirely finished eating.
—Julia Sullivan, SELF, 9 July 2024
See all Example Sentences for belly laugh 
Expert Panel®, Forbes, 29 Oct. 2024
Morrison misses his late partner’s gigantic belly laugh that would engulf everything in its orbit.
—Charles McNulty, Los Angeles Times, 4 Oct. 2024
Nothing was off-limits in Mad, a newsstand stalwart that would reach peak annual sales in the 1970s of 2.5 million issues by delivering belly laughs and self-satisfaction to America’s class clowns through cartoons, parodies, sarcastic characters and an unending stream of gross-out gags.
—Patrick Sauer, Smithsonian Magazine, 17 Sep. 2024
Just try your best to separate big belly laughs from bites of food, and save the call to mom for when you’re entirely finished eating.
—Julia Sullivan, SELF, 9 July 2024
See all Example Sentences for belly laugh
Recent Examples of Synonyms for belly laugh
Noun
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Embracing them, accepting them with a little enthusiasm, and a good bit of laughter will spread the message to others and importantly to yourself that aging is fun and joyful and beautiful.—
Kimberly Holland,
Southern Living,
22 Jan. 2025
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Keke herself was in a fit of maniacal laughter as SZA opted out of answering and ate another wing.—
Mya Abraham,
VIBE.com,
22 Jan. 2025
Noun
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Rory Sykes, 32 Malibu The rosy-cheeked, flame-haired 10-year-old paused and gave a giggle of frustration.—
Los Angeles Times Staff,
Los Angeles Times,
13 Jan. 2025
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Cooper and Cohen have become New Year’s staples as hosts of CNN’s lively celebration known for its fun atmosphere and viral moments—including Cooper’s infectious giggle.—
Monica Mercuri,
Forbes,
31 Dec. 2024
Noun
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The fake laugh would be ‘gasp gasp,’ a kind of inhale.—
Susan Morrison,
The New Yorker,
13 Jan. 2025
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Rivers said with a laugh before his Bucks’ faced Thibodeau’s Knicks at Madison Square Garden.—
Peter Sblendorio,
New York Daily News,
12 Jan. 2025
Noun
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So he must be placed in the Apparition section, next to ghosts like John Barron, sharing a snicker with Ivana.—
Greg Marotta,
New York Daily News,
12 Jan. 2025
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There are private snickers about the offense’s lack of imagination, the team’s absence of leadership and the dearth of talent.—
Pat Leonard,
New York Daily News,
22 Dec. 2024
Thesaurus Entries Near belly laugh
Cite this Entry
“Belly laugh.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/belly%20laugh. Accessed 27 Jan. 2025.
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