belly laugh

noun

Definition of belly laughnext
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

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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 Rothberg leads the room through a laughter exercise—head laugh, chest laugh, belly laugh, roller-coaster laugh. — Geri Stengel, Forbes.com, 27 Mar. 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 The comedy show will feature deep knowledge through storytelling, one-liners, and ad-libs, aiming to bring smiles, chuckles, and belly laughs to the audience. — Charlie Vargas, Daily News, 28 Nov. 2025 See All Example Sentences for belly laugh
Recent Examples of Synonyms for belly laugh
  1. laughter
  2. chuckle
  3. giggle
  4. laugh
  5. snicker
Noun
  • If laughter is the best medicine, traveling with friends is a close second.
    — Patricia Doherty, Travel + Leisure, 5 Aug. 2026
  • As Reeves performed her rendition of the anthem, the broadcast caught players and fans trying to stifle their laughter.
    — Natasha Dye, PEOPLE, 3 Aug. 2026
Definition of laughter
Noun
  • The risk, though, with horror-comedy—with dinging from chuckles to shrieks and back again—is always an evacuated center.
    — James Parker, The Atlantic, 20 July 2026
  • And while most of the film is unrelentingly grim, its few stabs at dark humor — most notably the punchlines about the grandmother’s faulty memory — didn’t garner a chuckle from me.
    — Angelica Jade Bastién, Vulture, 10 July 2026
Definition of chuckle
Noun
  • Keira Knightley is all giggles at day 12 of the 2026 Wimbledon Tennis Championships in London on July 10.
    — People Staff, PEOPLE, 13 July 2026
  • Admittedly, Carmy is not exactly a bucket of giggles in this episode, or, really, in any episode.
    — Jen Chaney, Vulture, 26 June 2026
Definition of giggle
Noun
  • The props team either hated me or loved me, honestly [laughs].
    — Kimberly Nordyke, HollywoodReporter, 31 July 2026
  • Haven, in particular, drew many laughs from the audience by playing Lee’s dull boyfriend Peter as a cartoonish surfer boy stereotype.
    — Wilson Chapman, IndieWire, 29 July 2026
Definition of laugh
Noun
  • Classic cookies come in 11 flavors like chocolate chip, oatmeal raisin, peanut butter, snicker doodle, white chocolate macadamia nut, fruity pebbles, monster and white chocolate cranberry.
    — Ella Gonzales, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 29 July 2026
  • As is, this is a foolish thriller that prompts the occasional snicker but not much more.
    — Randy Myers, Mercury News, 9 July 2026
Definition of snicker

Browse Nearby Words

belly-lands
belly laugh
belly laughs
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Belly laugh.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/belly%20laugh. Accessed 6 Aug. 2026.

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