as in chuckle
an explosive sound that is a sign of amusement
managed to keep a straight face for a minute before he let loose with a loud guffaw
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of guffaw
Eric Renner Brown,
Billboard,
11 Nov. 2025
Everybody behind the camera could barely hold back the guffaws.
—
Cameron Crowe,
HollywoodReporter,
24 Oct. 2025
Amy Nicholson,
Los Angeles Times,
11 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for guffaw
Noun
This was the first year in recent memory where none of the nominees in the big four categories set off a hearty round of guffaws across my various chats and social media feeds.
—
Eric Renner Brown,
Billboard,
11 Nov. 2025
Everybody behind the camera could barely hold back the guffaws.
—
Cameron Crowe,
HollywoodReporter,
24 Oct. 2025
Verb
Tykes get slapped around, shot with arrows and dangled in traffic — tortures that are played seriously, but the shock of them allows you to guffaw.
—
Amy Nicholson,
Los Angeles Times,
11 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for guffaw
Recent Examples of Synonyms for guffaw
Noun
-
There was a point in Patrick Paul’s ascension last season where his smirk, his hearty chuckles irritated, if not frustrated his opponents to the point of anger.
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For one, our laughs sound different based on context — from a polite chuckle among colleagues to a full-bodied guffaw with close friends.
Verb
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An uncontrollable laugh when tickled is vastly different from a polite laugh in a meeting, an infectious laugh during a movie, or a nervous little giggle after making a mistake.
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Humans and great apes have been giggling in similar ways since branching off the evolutionary tree, a new study suggests.
Noun
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Enjoli Stewart, Michael's mother, said the events taking place on Sunday, June 28, and Monday, June 29, in the Deer Run Estates neighborhood in Lumberton, New Jersey, will honor her son's love for ice cream, laughter and bringing people together.
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The answer catches Hathaway completely off guard, sending the Oscar winner into laughter and bringing the scene to a halt.
Verb
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The ending echoes the film’s opening, when viewers hear the couple laughing together while playing the piano during a happier chapter of their relationship.
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Imagine tall trees across the lake, a calm breeze, children laughing in the distance, the scent of your old canvas tent – there’s no forgetting the sights, sounds, smells and feel of summer camp.
Noun
-
The grown-ups in the audience snicker.
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There were snickers from some of the other students, including a tall and lank-haired kid whose name Adele didn’t know.
Cite this Entry
“Guffaw.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/guffaw. Accessed 28 Jun. 2026.
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