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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
1
as in giggling
to show mirth with an explosive vocal sound
everyone laughed when the clown dramatically slipped and fell
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
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
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Recent Examples of laughing
Anna Wiener, New Yorker, 4 May 2026
Keith moved into the center of the balcony, posing and laughing.
—Danielle Parker, CBS News, 14 Apr. 2026
There was none of the usual laughing and joking.
—Mario Cortegana, New York Times, 20 Mar. 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
The laughing and stuff wasn’t written into it.
—Kimberly Roots, TVLine, 5 Sep. 2025
Kevin Liptak, CNN Money, 28 Apr. 2026
Lucy Liu is spotted laughing on the set of Superfakes in Madison Square Park in New York City on April 27.
—Toria Sheffield, PEOPLE, 28 Apr. 2026
Perhaps like many fans who witnessed the play, Toothaker began laughing at Koo's expense.
—Armando Salguero Outkick, FOXNews.com, 28 Apr. 2026
This could have been great cause for alarm, but instead, Crosby and everyone else started laughing.
—Josh Yohe, New York Times, 27 Apr. 2026
So even as the Nazi regime was radicalizing through the 1930s and committing horrific violence, the German population was still laughing and being entertained.
—Literary Hub, 27 Apr. 2026
The man, later identified as Gomez, had allegedly approached a woman with the gun in his hand, laughing and pointing it at her, authorities said.
—Jason Meisner, Chicago Tribune, 27 Apr. 2026
Lucille Ball nearly kicked them out (but didn’t), James Cagney took them to dinner after they were sized up by his caretaker, Fred Astaire did a dance for them, and Mel Brooks kept them laughing.
—Chris Yogerst, HollywoodReporter, 27 Apr. 2026
Afterward, thousands of giddy fans thronged the malecón, Havana’s seaside promenade, laughing and drinking rum.
—Kate Linthicum, Los Angeles Times, 20 Apr. 2026
Noun
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
Keith moved into the center of the balcony, posing and laughing.
—Danielle Parker, CBS News, 14 Apr. 2026
There was none of the usual laughing and joking.
—Mario Cortegana, New York Times, 20 Mar. 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
The laughing and stuff wasn’t written into it.
—Kimberly Roots, TVLine, 5 Sep. 2025
Verb
Members of both chambers seemed to enjoy his 20-minute address, listening intently and laughing at the monarch’s jokes and giving him standing ovations.
—Kevin Liptak, CNN Money, 28 Apr. 2026
Lucy Liu is spotted laughing on the set of Superfakes in Madison Square Park in New York City on April 27.
—Toria Sheffield, PEOPLE, 28 Apr. 2026
Perhaps like many fans who witnessed the play, Toothaker began laughing at Koo's expense.
—Armando Salguero Outkick, FOXNews.com, 28 Apr. 2026
This could have been great cause for alarm, but instead, Crosby and everyone else started laughing.
—Josh Yohe, New York Times, 27 Apr. 2026
So even as the Nazi regime was radicalizing through the 1930s and committing horrific violence, the German population was still laughing and being entertained.
—Literary Hub, 27 Apr. 2026
The man, later identified as Gomez, had allegedly approached a woman with the gun in his hand, laughing and pointing it at her, authorities said.
—Jason Meisner, Chicago Tribune, 27 Apr. 2026
Lucille Ball nearly kicked them out (but didn’t), James Cagney took them to dinner after they were sized up by his caretaker, Fred Astaire did a dance for them, and Mel Brooks kept them laughing.
—Chris Yogerst, HollywoodReporter, 27 Apr. 2026
Afterward, thousands of giddy fans thronged the malecón, Havana’s seaside promenade, laughing and drinking rum.
—Kate Linthicum, Los Angeles Times, 20 Apr. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for laughing
Adjective
-
Looking for an excuse to eat, drink and be merry this weekend?—
Patrick Connolly,
The Orlando Sentinel,
30 Apr. 2026
-
Knoxville and his merry band of delightfully sadistic goons are back for one possibly final rodeo.—
Fran Hoepfner,
Vulture,
27 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
There was a lot of nervous smiling.—
Raechal Shewfelt,
Entertainment Weekly,
31 Oct. 2025
-
Umanmielen responded with a GIF of a smiling, but famously blind, Stevie Wonder.—
Alex Zietlow,
Charlotte Observer,
25 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
On the chaise side of the sectional, Fiona and Izzy were giggling under a blanket, playing a makeover game on Fiona’s phone.—
Anna Wiener,
New Yorker,
4 May 2026
-
McLarty and Walker shift from depressive introspection to giggling reminiscences.—
Christopher Arnott,
Hartford Courant,
4 May 2026
Verb
-
But there’s also a kind of sneering conventional wisdom toward Vance that doesn’t seem to have much basis in political reality.—
Ben Smith,
semafor.com,
28 Apr. 2026
-
In character as a free spirit who scorns social convention, Davis is all haughty tosses of the head and sneering lines.—
Darren Franich,
Entertainment Weekly,
15 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
The neighborhood Neighboring St Moritz was adopted in the 19th century by all those jolly-hockey-stick Brits, who introduced skiing and tobogganing, but little Sils Maria has always been more cerebral.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
23 Apr. 2026
-
Of course, even for me there were still some jolly moments.—
Christine Smallwood,
Harpers Magazine,
24 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Baffert watched it all on his laptop from California, chuckling as the board showing the horse’s price flaked out momentarily.—
Dana O’Neil,
CNN Money,
1 May 2026
-
Flying cows, fiddle-playing cats, and chuckling retrievers inhabit the space between ornate columns.—
Julia Harrison,
Architectural Digest,
22 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
During the holiday season, the historic downtown welcomes over 2 million visitors to enjoy the festive activities, decorations and Christmas market.—
Ella Gonzales,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
30 Apr. 2026
-
Stock up on these for everyday dining and festive barbeques.—
Carly Totten,
Better Homes & Gardens,
30 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Richter’s grand slam Tuesday against Tinley Park ended with plenty of screaming and high-fives at home plate.—
Tony Baranek,
Chicago Tribune,
29 Apr. 2026
-
Any passengers not knocked out during the chaos or sucked out into the sky are generally screaming and grabbing for oxygen masks while Captain Rich makes a futile announcement about the importance of not panicking.—
David Rooney,
HollywoodReporter,
28 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Laughing.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/laughing. Accessed 8 May. 2026.
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