as in smiling
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Dissimilar Words
as in laughing
to express an emotion (as amusement) by curving the lips upward
grinned at the kids' fooling around in the pool
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of grinning
Heather Bushman, IndyStar, 25 Mar. 2026
The footage also showed a man on the ground in handcuffs who appeared to be grinning, the outlet reported.
—Stephen Sorace, FOXNews.com, 19 Mar. 2026
The behemoth roadside spectacle also welcomes travelers with dozens of gas pumps, a grinning beaver mascot, and a country-store-feeling home section stocked with over-the-top souvenirs.
—Kaitlyn Yarborough, Southern Living, 12 Mar. 2026
As Angus spoke, Ernie Haecker, a longtime train lover, nodded in understanding, grinning beneath a handlebar mustache.
—Tribune News Service, San Diego Union-Tribune, 10 Mar. 2026
The 80-foot-long grinning behemoth floating in a roadside pond was built as an anniversary gift for the owner’s whale-loving wife.
—Zoey Goto, Travel + Leisure, 8 Mar. 2026
On the short walk from the changing rooms to the outdoor saunas — despite banya hats flying off and robes coming undone in the sub-30-degree weather — the sauna-goers were grinning.
—Alexa Mikhail, Flow Space, 6 Mar. 2026
Mamdani emerged from this shroud of mystery triumphant, posting a photograph on X of himself, firmly straight-faced, standing alongside the grinning President.
—Molly Fischer, New Yorker, 5 Mar. 2026
Alan Simpson Photography A local photographer, Alan Simpson, captured the image of the man grinning widely from a window looking down at the street as bystanders shouted at him and police swarmed the area, Edinburgh Live reported.
—Lindsay Quella, CBS News, 2 Mar. 2026
Verb
After spotting the grinning giant in Texas, Ralph Potter paid $1,600 to have the statue shipped in four pieces to the 16th Street shop.
—Heather Bushman, IndyStar, 25 Mar. 2026
The footage also showed a man on the ground in handcuffs who appeared to be grinning, the outlet reported.
—Stephen Sorace, FOXNews.com, 19 Mar. 2026
The behemoth roadside spectacle also welcomes travelers with dozens of gas pumps, a grinning beaver mascot, and a country-store-feeling home section stocked with over-the-top souvenirs.
—Kaitlyn Yarborough, Southern Living, 12 Mar. 2026
As Angus spoke, Ernie Haecker, a longtime train lover, nodded in understanding, grinning beneath a handlebar mustache.
—Tribune News Service, San Diego Union-Tribune, 10 Mar. 2026
The 80-foot-long grinning behemoth floating in a roadside pond was built as an anniversary gift for the owner’s whale-loving wife.
—Zoey Goto, Travel + Leisure, 8 Mar. 2026
On the short walk from the changing rooms to the outdoor saunas — despite banya hats flying off and robes coming undone in the sub-30-degree weather — the sauna-goers were grinning.
—Alexa Mikhail, Flow Space, 6 Mar. 2026
Mamdani emerged from this shroud of mystery triumphant, posting a photograph on X of himself, firmly straight-faced, standing alongside the grinning President.
—Molly Fischer, New Yorker, 5 Mar. 2026
Alan Simpson Photography A local photographer, Alan Simpson, captured the image of the man grinning widely from a window looking down at the street as bystanders shouted at him and police swarmed the area, Edinburgh Live reported.
—Lindsay Quella, CBS News, 2 Mar. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for grinning
Adjective
-
As Thomas’ parents, Katina Smith and Bobby Thomas, unveiled their son’s smiling statue in the Broncos’ Ring of Fame Plaza last Sunday, as scores of his former teammates looked on in sadness and joy, Miller was 800 miles away in Dallas, gearing up for a game against the Cowboys.—
Luca Evans,
Denver Post,
24 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
Jamaica born About a hundred people gathered to lay Wilson to rest, singing, crying and laughing while remembering his kind heart, his hard work and his famous barbecue ribs and chicken wings.—
Miami Herald,
Miami Herald,
28 Mar. 2026
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Airline customers aren’t laughing, at least right now.—
John Seewer,
Fortune,
28 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Grinning.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/grinning. Accessed 2 Apr. 2026.
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