as in chuckle
an explosive sound that is a sign of amusement
the joke provoked a sudden chortle from a bystander
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in to laugh
to show mirth with an explosive vocal sound
audiences might chortle gently during the movie's amusing bits, but there are few knee-slappers
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of chortle
Yudhijit Bhattacharjee, Discover Magazine, 17 July 2011
When the book said that someone laughed, Miles offered the engineer a giggle, a chortle, and a cackle; when a character steepled their fingers, Miles did, too.
—Daniel A. Gross, The New Yorker, 16 Dec. 2022
Edward Lotterman, Twin Cities, 19 May 2024
Her son had often suggested that the Investigative Committee investigate itself and chortled at the absurdity.
—Robyn Dixon, Washington Post, 23 Feb. 2024
See All Example Sentences for chortle
Noun
The comment evoked a chortle from Prasher, whose typical manner combines irony and earthiness.
—Yudhijit Bhattacharjee, Discover Magazine, 17 July 2011
When the book said that someone laughed, Miles offered the engineer a giggle, a chortle, and a cackle; when a character steepled their fingers, Miles did, too.
—Daniel A. Gross, The New Yorker, 16 Dec. 2022
Verb
So skeptics may chortle at do-gooder liberals’ NIMBY uproar as being hoisted on their own petards, so to speak.
—Edward Lotterman, Twin Cities, 19 May 2024
Her son had often suggested that the Investigative Committee investigate itself and chortled at the absurdity.
—Robyn Dixon, Washington Post, 23 Feb. 2024
See All Example Sentences for chortle
Recent Examples of Synonyms for chortle
Verb
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Another adorable snap featured Bush and Ocean laughing and cuddling together on a couch.—
Hannah Sacks,
People.com,
12 May 2025
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Everyone was barefoot, laughing, dancing and soaked.—
Alyce Collins,
MSNBC Newsweek,
11 May 2025
Noun
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This raw, vulnerable and unpredictable version of Tiffany Haddish leaves the viewer crying with laughter and sobbing from heartfelt, relatable, real-time self-healing.—
Matt Minton,
Variety,
9 May 2025
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But a comedy with audience laughter is its own unified thing which comes together in a package that can please.—
James Hibberd,
HollywoodReporter,
9 May 2025
Verb
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And his son loves every second of it, giggling out loud!—
Allison Moses,
USA Today,
7 May 2025
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During the wedding ceremony, the couple both ran away from the altar, giggling like schoolchildren and vowing to do things their own way.—
Charlotte Walsh,
Vulture,
5 May 2025
Noun
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League sources stifle their snickers in public while privately marveling at the owner’s ceaseless stupidity. 3.—
Jeff Howe,
The Athletic,
24 Jan. 2025
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So he must be placed in the Apparition section, next to ghosts like John Barron, sharing a snicker with Ivana.—
Greg Marotta,
New York Daily News,
12 Jan. 2025
Verb
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The workers, in shock, started laughing, and Alvarez couldn’t help but chuckle at her grandma’s bold statement.—
Jordan Greene,
People.com,
30 Apr. 2025
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Luzardo chuckled when asked about the pitch design sessions.—
Andy McCullough,
New York Times,
28 Apr. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Chortle.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/chortle. Accessed 16 May. 2025.
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