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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Asked by a reporter this week to describe the journey of her tennis career, Amanda Anisimova paused, then laughed.—
Becky Sullivan,
NPR,
11 July 2025
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From left: Betty laughs in her armchair, and a screenshot of the video.—
Rachael O'Connor,
MSNBC Newsweek,
11 July 2025
Noun
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Expect laughter, reflection, and real talk that inspires.—
Essence,
Essence,
6 July 2025
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After all, if laughter weren’t the most sacred byproduct of going to the movies, then Nicole Kidman wouldn’t have listed it first.—
David Ehrlich,
IndieWire,
3 July 2025
Verb
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In the pictures, the pair enjoy an intimate moment on a bench overlooking the water, embracing and giggling.—
Elizabeth Logan,
Glamour,
7 July 2025
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Over the course of Youssef’s set, reminders of Mamdani’s victory and the memory that something unexpected — something possibly quite good — had happened in this city had the audience giggling and roaring in equal measure, like laughing gas was being pumped through the room.—
Fran Hoepfner,
Vulture,
29 June 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 committee members chuckled, indicating that Cox made a valid point.—
Anna Cecil,
IndyStar,
2 July 2025
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Trump said, as Secretary of State Marco Rubio chuckled behind him.—
Sarah Fortinsky,
The Hill,
26 June 2025
Cite this Entry
“Chortle.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/chortle. Accessed 15 Jul. 2025.
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