CHORTLING Synonyms: 34 Similar and Opposite Words

chortling

verb

present participle of chortle

as in laughing

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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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 chortling Regime leaders must be chortling over their surprising and unearned new international legitimacy. — Daniel B. Shapiro, The Atlantic, 17 June 2026 The nightingale flew around the fox’s head, the two of them chortling in their own indiscernible ways. — Hazlitt, 19 Nov. 2025 Against all of this allegedly heady stuff, the score—by Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross—intentionally jars us from encroaching drowsiness with chortling woodwinds and shardlike piano chords that are the aural equivalent of jagged Plexiglass off-cuts. — Stephanie Zacharek, Time, 29 Aug. 2025

Recent Examples of Synonyms for chortling

Verb

Curiously, the same thing happened to Altobelli, and the two of us ended up breaking into a clamorous chorus of laughter, confirming our complicity, especially when laughing at one of our idols.

— J. B. MacKinnon, Harpers Magazine, 27 Oct. 2026
Unwilling to risk more men, Bran is forced to leave his crewmate there, laughing madly on the distant shore.

— Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 21 Oct. 2026

Definition of laughing

Verb

In one photo, Ray’s sister Ruby held up the giggling infant, making kissy faces at the baby wrapped up in a blanket.

— Shania Russell, Entertainment Weekly, 27 Oct. 2026
Last episode, Jelly and Devin were out there giggling on the beach like Will and Grace with sand stuck in their coochies.

— Brian Moylan, Vulture, 22 Oct. 2026

Definition of giggling

Verb

The Tío Xavier persona that Becerra supporters have trotted out — a kind, chuckling sage — isn’t what California needs right now.

— Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 1 Oct. 2026
Cubs pitcher David Peterson was coming out of the bullpen to pitch in the eighth inning after the fight took place, and the umpires were chuckling.

— Paul Sullivan, Chicago Tribune, 19 Aug. 2026

Definition of chuckling

Verb

Young and the Panthers couldn’t capitalize on the iconic opportunity, though, and ultimately fell to the screaming green-and-gold parishioners, 27-19.

— Alex Zietlow, Charlotte Observer, 30 Oct. 2026
Still, the very idea of such a thing freezes my brain, locking it into a mental feedback loop that’s the equivalent of running around in a tight circle flapping my arms wildly and screaming.

— Phil Plait, Scientific American, 30 Oct. 2026

Definition of screaming

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chortles

chortling

chorus

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“Chortling.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/chortling. Accessed 4 Nov. 2026.

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Synonyms of chortling

verb

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