amused 1 of 2

adjective

Definition of amusednext
as in smiling

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amused

2 of 2

verb

past tense of amuse
as in entertained
to cause (someone) to pass the time agreeably occupied the older girl amused her four-year-old sister at the family reunion by showing her off to all the relatives

Synonyms & Similar Words

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 amused
Adjective
Jay practically embarrassed Mase, then a pop rapper at Bad Boy Records, not by screaming but by sounding amused. — Jayson Buford, Rolling Stone, 3 June 2026 Being engaged and amused, in fact, is one crucial definition of entertainment. — David Bloom, Forbes.com, 28 May 2026
Verb
Humorous art that makes light of what goes on in the bathroom can have a playful effect and keep your guests amused, too. — Bestreviews, Mercury News, 6 July 2026 But Nicky stays and watches, amused as Lestat declares his new outlook on life. — Hunter Ingram, Variety, 22 June 2026 See All Example Sentences for amused
Recent Examples of Synonyms for amused
  1. smiling
  2. entertained
  3. gleeful
  4. regaled
  5. jovial
  6. distracted
  7. mirthful
  8. merry
Adjective
  • Women in black hijabs and abayas, many wearing badges depicting Zahra’s smiling face, lined the streets as men prayed over her casket, placed outside the Husseiniya, a Shiite hall.
    — Rania Abouzeid, New Yorker, 21 May 2026
  • 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
Definition of smiling
Verb
  • In another clip, people competed with harsh winds to set up a tent encampment on a soccer field and children entertained themselves on a nearby jungle gym.
    — Dennis Romero, NBC news, 2 Aug. 2026
  • The capital of Nova Scotia boasts things like hands-on learning, outdoor adventure, and unique experiences that will keep the whole family entertained.
    — Kaitlyn McInnis, Forbes.com, 31 July 2026
Definition of entertained
Adjective
  • Both gleeful gore and anachronistic music have been part of Lizzie Borden pop-culture lore before.
    — Dan Medeiros, USA Today, 4 Aug. 2026
  • Caught between a defensive line of fans, an array of worried and/or triggered observers, and people dressing their gleeful critiques of a woman’s body in the guise of concern, Grande interjects some of the slowest, somberest music of her career.
    — Craig Jenkins, Vulture, 3 Aug. 2026
Definition of gleeful
Verb
  • And new local knowledge will be gleaned, with which future visitors will someday be regaled.
    — Rafaela Jinich, The Atlantic, 26 July 2026
  • Joe, a Geordie exiled to Yorkshire in search of work, regaled his son with stories of Jackie Milburn and the three FA Cup triumphs of the 1950s.
    — James Pearce, New York Times, 22 July 2026
Definition of regaled
Adjective
  • Add in Roger’s jovial friend named McKenna, who owns a bar that’s a den of thieves, and various other colorful characters, and this thrill ride is first-rate entertainment.
    — Monitor reviewers, Christian Science Monitor, 23 July 2026
  • The jovial big man, who is often cracking jokes in the locker room, is a menace on the field and still one of the best run stoppers in the NFL.
    — James Boyd, New York Times, 23 July 2026
Definition of jovial
Verb
  • The movie itself disappoints him for its deviations from the Stephen King novel (including this detail may help preempt criticisms over this adaptation), but he’s also distracted by the presence of a strikingly handsome stranger (Homer Gere).
    — Louis Peitzman, Vulture, 6 Aug. 2026
  • There is zero pressure on this team from a fan base whose attention span, and passion, will soon be distracted by the arrival of another football season.
    — Fort Worth Star-Telegram, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 4 Aug. 2026
Definition of distracted
Adjective
  • Haim managed to put on a show that felt about 95% mirthful while still honoring the integrity of the new songs that dig emotionally deeper.
    — Chris Willman, Variety, 14 Oct. 2025
  • There’s a mirthful sparkle to the crowd, guests and crew alike, especially apparent given our close quarters on the train.
    — Matt Ortile, Condé Nast Traveler, 8 Aug. 2024
Definition of mirthful
Adjective
  • But Margaret and Alice’s quick-witted machinations provide the basis for a merry outing at the theater.
    — Theater Critic, Los Angeles Times, 23 July 2026
  • Four hundred years later, a merry band of scientists and entrepreneurs of mind-altering intoxicants are plunging even deeper into the diabolical by mechanizing DMT’s delivery via IV syringe pumps.
    — Charles Moss, SPIN, 16 July 2026
Definition of merry

Browse Nearby Words

amuse-bouches
amused
amusedly
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Cite this Entry

“Amused.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/amused. Accessed 9 Aug. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on amused

Nglish: Translation of amused for Spanish Speakers

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