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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of belly laugh
This show, which still prompts belly laughs from my daughter and me even after countless rewatches, meets and surpasses my mother’s bar.
—
Jean Garnett,
New Yorker,
18 Apr. 2026
Serious belly laughs and nerve-racking moments arrive in equal measure; tonally, there’s nothing quite like it.
—
David Sims,
The Atlantic,
9 Dec. 2025
For over 50 years, it’s been the morning soundtrack of childhood, making its bright colors, belly laughs and sing-along tunes a cozy ritual for many.
—
Valerie Mesa,
PEOPLE,
10 Nov. 2025
Kids need to have belly laughs and almost pee their pants when reading—which is something that few other authors besides Seuss can do without invoking potty humor.
—
Literary Hub,
12 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for belly laugh
Jean Garnett,
New Yorker,
18 Apr. 2026
Serious belly laughs and nerve-racking moments arrive in equal measure; tonally, there’s nothing quite like it.
—
David Sims,
The Atlantic,
9 Dec. 2025
For over 50 years, it’s been the morning soundtrack of childhood, making its bright colors, belly laughs and sing-along tunes a cozy ritual for many.
—
Valerie Mesa,
PEOPLE,
10 Nov. 2025
Kids need to have belly laughs and almost pee their pants when reading—which is something that few other authors besides Seuss can do without invoking potty humor.
—
Literary Hub,
12 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for belly laugh
Recent Examples of Synonyms for belly laugh
Noun
-
He’s long delved into the dark corners of his lived and theoretical experience, pushing toward sticky, disquieting ideas that sent ripples of nervous laughter through a crowd unable to reject his reasoning.
-
If philosophy begins in wonder, trenchant social drama seems to start in laughter.
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.
-
For one, our laughs sound different based on context — from a polite chuckle among colleagues to a full-bodied guffaw with close friends.
Noun
-
Admittedly, Carmy is not exactly a bucket of giggles in this episode, or, really, in any episode.
-
Many animals can laugh too, but the giggles don’t follow human patterns as closely.
Noun
-
Fox Sports cameras showed Swift sharing a laugh with Kelce’s mother, Donna Kelce, in a suite.
-
Davidson cowrote each episode, providing plenty of laughs and adding an extra bounce to the show’s hopeful ending.
Noun
-
The grown-ups in the audience snicker.
-
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
“Belly laugh.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/belly%20laugh. Accessed 6 Jul. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
