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

Still laughing, though, at sanctimonious Yankees fans believing baseball is somehow unfair to the poor, gutty Yankees.

— Bill Shaikin, Los Angeles Times, 28 Sep. 2026
The sweet gallery opens with Rocki tugging at a large wig placed on her head as Rihanna can be heard laughing in the background.

— Mitchell Peters, Billboard, 27 Sep. 2026

Definition of laughing

Verb

This approach worked for Jean Nelson of Pasadena, California, after her 2-year-old son, Luke, took delight in dragging toilet paper down the hall, giggling as the roll unfurled behind him.

— Cynthia Hanson, Parents, 13 Sep. 2026
In the video, Hilton’s 3-year-old son Phoenix can be seen giggling as the puppy playfully chases him around the room while 2-year-old sister London looks on.

— Catherine Santino, PEOPLE, 1 Sep. 2026

Definition of giggling

Verb

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
In a New York Times interview, producer Tyran Donaldson, who has also worked with SZA, recalled chuckling at listening to the Diamonds work with the instrument.

— Kory Grow, Rolling Stone, 14 July 2026

Definition of chuckling

Verb

In reviewing the body camera footage, police found that the child was standing on the stairwell at one point and was screaming while holding her left arm up in the air, according to the warrant affidavit.

— Justin Muszynski, Hartford Courant, 4 Oct. 2026
Mahomes’ emotion seemed to bubble over in the second quarter, with CBS cameras catching the quarterback screaming at offensive coordinator Eric Bieniemy.

— Kansas City Star, Kansas City Star, 4 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 7 Oct. 2026.

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Synonyms of chortling

verb

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