as in laughing
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1
as in grinning
to express an emotion (as amusement) by curving the lips upward
the soldier smiled in pleasure when he saw the giant sign welcoming him home
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in sneering
to express scornful amusement by means of facial contortions
smiled at their ridiculous antics and walked away in disgust
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of smiling
Luca Evans, Denver Post, 24 Oct. 2025
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
Lorcan Lovett, NPR, 3 May 2026
At the front door, a large oil portrait of a smiling Jimmy presides.
—Amy Driscoll, Miami Herald, 3 May 2026
Your best action is to use a white towel or napkin to blot up the liquid and keep smiling.
—Mary Marlowe Leverette, Southern Living, 3 May 2026
On Charlotte's birthday last year, William and Kate shared a photo of their daughter smiling while wearing a backpack and a camouflage jacket and sitting outside with mountains in the background.
—ABC News, 2 May 2026
The smiling, friendly volunteers.
—Michael Deeds
may 1, Idaho Statesman, 1 May 2026
Other specialty plates also only permit six characters, including the California Museums format with a smiling Snoopy.
—Jim Radcliffe, Oc Register, 1 May 2026
The video, also shared by former Kentucky quarterback Reese Phillips, was from a recent session at QB Country, a leading quarterback training facility that coaches aspiring college and NFL players, according to its website, which features a smiling photo of Uncle Eli on its homepage.
—Anna Lazarus Caplan, PEOPLE, 1 May 2026
Crack into a can of craft beer, gaze at the wall plastered with polaroids of smiling patrons, and tuck into an engrossing read on one of the tweed armchairs.
—Kat Chen, Condé Nast Traveler, 25 Apr. 2026
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
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
The location of his mother's new residence has not been disclosed, and the state media broadcast was accompanied by an undated video still of a smiling Suu Kyi seated alongside two officers.
—Lorcan Lovett, NPR, 3 May 2026
At the front door, a large oil portrait of a smiling Jimmy presides.
—Amy Driscoll, Miami Herald, 3 May 2026
Your best action is to use a white towel or napkin to blot up the liquid and keep smiling.
—Mary Marlowe Leverette, Southern Living, 3 May 2026
On Charlotte's birthday last year, William and Kate shared a photo of their daughter smiling while wearing a backpack and a camouflage jacket and sitting outside with mountains in the background.
—ABC News, 2 May 2026
The smiling, friendly volunteers.
—Michael Deeds
may 1, Idaho Statesman, 1 May 2026
Other specialty plates also only permit six characters, including the California Museums format with a smiling Snoopy.
—Jim Radcliffe, Oc Register, 1 May 2026
The video, also shared by former Kentucky quarterback Reese Phillips, was from a recent session at QB Country, a leading quarterback training facility that coaches aspiring college and NFL players, according to its website, which features a smiling photo of Uncle Eli on its homepage.
—Anna Lazarus Caplan, PEOPLE, 1 May 2026
Crack into a can of craft beer, gaze at the wall plastered with polaroids of smiling patrons, and tuck into an engrossing read on one of the tweed armchairs.
—Kat Chen, Condé Nast Traveler, 25 Apr. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for smiling
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
Verb
-
Mira leaned back, shimmied under the limbo ribbon, then popped up, grinning, and shot her arms out triumphantly.—
Anna Wiener,
New Yorker,
4 May 2026
-
The successful trainer kept grinning through a congratulatory gauntlet following Friday night's Kentucky Oaks at Churchill Downs, hoping that colt Emerging Market can double the celebration for him in Saturday's Kentucky Derby.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
1 May 2026
Adjective
-
Her amused, introspective grace juggling a vast cast of (wonderful) characters and (fascinating) relationships means the true story at the center here ends up playing second fiddle.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
7 May 2026
-
Obama’s staff would look less amused a few weeks later, as their boss hosted President-elect Trump at the White House.—
W. James Antle III,
The Washington Examiner,
25 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
DeCaro often played likable, even jovial characters, a match for his own personality.—
Chris Jones,
Chicago Tribune,
29 Apr. 2026
-
And the two shared many jovial moments during their exchanges at the state banquet.—
Tiago Ventura,
Time,
29 Apr. 2026
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
Adjective
-
Through gleeful anarchy, a variety of filters, and a kinetic score, the two Maries spoil themselves with sweets, outwit suitors, and desecrate the rituals of fine dining in a glorious climax of rebellion.—
Jennifer Noyes,
Air Mail,
25 Apr. 2026
-
This relic of a production, however, doesn’t feel particularly dangerous, shocking or even gleeful.—
Frank Rizzo,
Variety,
24 Apr. 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
Adjective
-
The French—and, later, Anglo (Wilde, Beardsley, Rossetti)—attitude, mannered and morbid, was perhaps too Old World, at odds with our cheerful, Protestant rapacity.—
Olivia Kan-Sperling,
Artforum,
2 May 2026
-
Create a cheerful canvas collage inspired by artist Robin Anne Cooper.—
Kris Slugg,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
2 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Smiling.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/smiling. Accessed 8 May. 2026.
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