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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As the light filters through the windows, the students laugh and ask questions; there’s a creative flow in the room.—
Katy Waldman,
New Yorker,
29 June 2025
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People eating, people laughing, people talking on the mobile.—
Oliver Kay,
New York Times,
28 June 2025
Noun
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Bailey could be seen mouthing something to the host, and before turning around as instructed, instead went in for a kiss, sending the audience into howls of laughter and applause.—
EW.com,
EW.com,
27 June 2025
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In Ukraine's legendary port city, the salty breeze carried the splashing and laughter of a carefree summer.—
Joanna Kakissis,
NPR,
25 June 2025
Verb
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Dropping catches and mis-fielding were not things to be giggled at.—
Paul Newman,
New York Times,
19 June 2025
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After giggling at the situation, de Rossi, 52, herds the visitor out the door.—
Colson Thayer,
People.com,
17 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 Vermont lawmaker chuckled and brushed off the comment while looking down.—
Ashleigh Fields,
The Hill,
24 June 2025
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Some of my peers have chuckled knowingly and offered congratulations.—
Allen Buchanan,
Oc Register,
21 June 2025
Cite this Entry
“Chortle.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/chortle. Accessed 5 Jul. 2025.
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