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
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of chortle
Lindsay Zoladz, New York Times, 11 June 2023
The comment evoked a chortle from Prasher, whose typical manner combines irony and earthiness.
—Yudhijit Bhattacharjee, Discover Magazine, 17 July 2011
Jay Nordlinger, National Review, 5 Nov. 2024
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
See All Example Sentences for chortle
Noun
So many laurels hung around one’s neck can easily become heavy, but Mitchell has welcomed all of this fanfare with an amused lightness — a shimmy, a chortle and a fresh round of pinot grigio.
—Lindsay Zoladz, New York Times, 11 June 2023
The comment evoked a chortle from Prasher, whose typical manner combines irony and earthiness.
—Yudhijit Bhattacharjee, Discover Magazine, 17 July 2011
Verb
But to chortle with a murderous, anti-American dictator over a former vice president . .
—Jay Nordlinger, National Review, 5 Nov. 2024
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
See All Example Sentences for chortle
Recent Examples of Synonyms for chortle
Verb
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Rachael said Lylah will sit on anyone's lap and lick them until the lucky recipients start laughing.—
Liz O'Connell,
MSNBC Newsweek,
16 Aug. 2025
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As Michael picked up Murphy into his arms, wedding guests laughed in the background.—
Ashlyn Robinette,
People.com,
15 Aug. 2025
Noun
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His legacy and laughter will be carried on through his family.—
Raechal Shewfelt,
EW.com,
13 Aug. 2025
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Before anyone knew it, the house would be as fragrant of cocoa and sugar and butter as it was filled with conversation and laughter and clinking silverware.—
Catherine Jessee,
Southern Living,
13 Aug. 2025
Verb
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Kitty starts giggling, as Mia remains frozen, not moving a muscle, her ears flat on her head and rump stuck up into the sky.—
Rachael O'Connor,
MSNBC Newsweek,
12 Aug. 2025
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The are-they-aren’t-they couple have been seen holding hands, giggling like new lovebirds, and lip-balming on live TV, as reports of a true romance spread like wildfire across the internet.—
Raven Smith,
Vogue,
5 Aug. 2025
Noun
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The carnage leads to a sigh of an epilogue that seems, without giving anything away, like a curious letdown, a cruel little snicker from Aster that doesn’t entirely satisfy.—
Randy Myers,
Mercury News,
15 July 2025
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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
Verb
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The regulars chuckled, the virgins-no-more cheered and, after some ground rules, the shuttle was off.—
Kylie Volavongsa,
jsonline.com,
7 Aug. 2025
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Speaking from his longtime home in La Quinta, near Palm Springs, Reid chuckled appreciatively when reminded of the late Franklin’s praise for him.—
George Varga,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
6 Aug. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Chortle.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/chortle. Accessed 22 Aug. 2025.
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