as in giggles
an explosive sound that is a sign of amusement
a quick chuckle at the funny comment
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in laughs
to show mirth with an explosive vocal sound
everyone dutifully chuckled at the professor's intended jokes
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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 chuckles
ABC News, 18 Feb. 2026
His children’s reflections were poetic in the style of the late civil rights icon — filled with prayer, tears and a few chuckles, including about disagreements that occur when growing up in a large, lively family.
—Sophia Tareen, Los Angeles Times, 18 Feb. 2026
Between chuckles and jokes, two middle schoolers hovered over a pan heating on an electric stove.
—Jessica Ma, Dallas Morning News, 3 Feb. 2026
Many of them are amusing enough to get chuckles and the odd big laugh but a little more wit amongst the throwaway put-downs would have been welcome.
—Richard Kuipers, Variety, 26 Jan. 2026
That one got a big laugh out of Schmitt and a chuckles from his wife.
—Alexander Bolton, The Hill, 12 Dec. 2025
Sending up the no-stakes frivolity of progressive Reform Judaism, characters played by Seth Rogen and Kate Berlant get some insight-free chuckles.
—Daniel Fienberg, HollywoodReporter, 23 Oct. 2025
Manning said Monday, drawing chuckles from reporters.
—Cedric Golden, Austin American Statesman, 17 Oct. 2025
LaKeith Stanfield is an easy standout as Parker’s best friend Grofield, a passionate actor who moonlights as a criminal to fund his dead-end theater company — some of the movie’s heartiest chuckles come from the joy Grofield takes in getting to ham things up as part of the heist.
—David Ehrlich, IndieWire, 30 Sep. 2025
Tomris Laffly, Variety, 14 Mar. 2026
Calloway chuckles but also notes that greater awareness of things like organic corn and local sourcing has helped change perception over time.
—Amy Drew Thompson, The Orlando Sentinel, 25 Feb. 2026
To all of this, Smith chuckles.
—Evan Grant, Dallas Morning News, 19 Jan. 2026
Survivalist Max Djenohan sees your ultralight backpacking rig and chuckles.
—Outside Online, 14 Jan. 2026
Through it all, Stanley smirks, Criss chuckles, and Simmons maintains his dour demeanor.
—Joseph Hudak, Rolling Stone, 16 Oct. 2025
Eric Fisher chuckles over the phone at the mention of the two World Championship finals.
—Liam Tharme, New York Times, 13 Sep. 2025
With each successive exchange, the replying chorus added another member, until the air was filled with a continuous melody of bugles, grunts, cow/calf calls, whistles and chuckles.
—Jim Tschetter, Outdoor Life, 27 Aug. 2025
Love still chuckles about the time Michael Jordan snapped his driver back in college—a mishap that pushed him into a new club that’d stay in his bag for over a decade, and left the two Tar Heels, both bound for Hall of Fame careers, with a killer yarn that still hits all these years later.
—Mike Dojc, Forbes.com, 22 Aug. 2025
Noun
His children's reflections were poetic in the style of the late civil rights icon — filled with prayer, tears and a few chuckles, including about disagreements that occur when growing up in a large, lively family.
—ABC News, 18 Feb. 2026
His children’s reflections were poetic in the style of the late civil rights icon — filled with prayer, tears and a few chuckles, including about disagreements that occur when growing up in a large, lively family.
—Sophia Tareen, Los Angeles Times, 18 Feb. 2026
Between chuckles and jokes, two middle schoolers hovered over a pan heating on an electric stove.
—Jessica Ma, Dallas Morning News, 3 Feb. 2026
Many of them are amusing enough to get chuckles and the odd big laugh but a little more wit amongst the throwaway put-downs would have been welcome.
—Richard Kuipers, Variety, 26 Jan. 2026
That one got a big laugh out of Schmitt and a chuckles from his wife.
—Alexander Bolton, The Hill, 12 Dec. 2025
Sending up the no-stakes frivolity of progressive Reform Judaism, characters played by Seth Rogen and Kate Berlant get some insight-free chuckles.
—Daniel Fienberg, HollywoodReporter, 23 Oct. 2025
Manning said Monday, drawing chuckles from reporters.
—Cedric Golden, Austin American Statesman, 17 Oct. 2025
LaKeith Stanfield is an easy standout as Parker’s best friend Grofield, a passionate actor who moonlights as a criminal to fund his dead-end theater company — some of the movie’s heartiest chuckles come from the joy Grofield takes in getting to ham things up as part of the heist.
—David Ehrlich, IndieWire, 30 Sep. 2025
Verb
Unfolding with an immersive pace to earn our attention and chuckles throughout, the film’s opening sequence is its most brilliant, with an employee of a beer bottling factory in the Midwest dropping his vape on the ledges of fast-moving machinery.
—Tomris Laffly, Variety, 14 Mar. 2026
Calloway chuckles but also notes that greater awareness of things like organic corn and local sourcing has helped change perception over time.
—Amy Drew Thompson, The Orlando Sentinel, 25 Feb. 2026
To all of this, Smith chuckles.
—Evan Grant, Dallas Morning News, 19 Jan. 2026
Survivalist Max Djenohan sees your ultralight backpacking rig and chuckles.
—Outside Online, 14 Jan. 2026
Through it all, Stanley smirks, Criss chuckles, and Simmons maintains his dour demeanor.
—Joseph Hudak, Rolling Stone, 16 Oct. 2025
Eric Fisher chuckles over the phone at the mention of the two World Championship finals.
—Liam Tharme, New York Times, 13 Sep. 2025
With each successive exchange, the replying chorus added another member, until the air was filled with a continuous melody of bugles, grunts, cow/calf calls, whistles and chuckles.
—Jim Tschetter, Outdoor Life, 27 Aug. 2025
Love still chuckles about the time Michael Jordan snapped his driver back in college—a mishap that pushed him into a new club that’d stay in his bag for over a decade, and left the two Tar Heels, both bound for Hall of Fame careers, with a killer yarn that still hits all these years later.
—Mike Dojc, Forbes.com, 22 Aug. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for chuckles
Noun
-
My daughters just flew their kites from last year around our yard yesterday on a blustery March day, and the giggles were a sound and sight to treasure.—
Chaunie Brusie,
Parents,
13 Mar. 2026
-
Arnold dissolved into giggles while Strong dramatically wiped at her eyes.—
Emily Adams,
Hartford Courant,
13 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
And Newton kept the crowd going with screams and laughs through tonight’s screening, sitting right behind her co-star Shawn Hatosy.—
Dessi Gomez,
Deadline,
13 Mar. 2026
-
Tony Benna, listening on the same Zoom call, laughs at the story.—
David Fear,
Rolling Stone,
7 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
The event also had free opportunities to take photos, get ice cream snickers and have earned a Super Bowl post card.—
Veronica Fernandez-Alvarado
Updated February 5,
Sacbee.com,
5 Feb. 2026
-
While there were a few snickers, the photographers obliged and got their photos.—
Brittany Spanos,
Rolling Stone,
11 Nov. 2025
Noun
-
Expect guffaws, and bring tissues.—
Scott Hocker,
TheWeek,
18 Mar. 2026
-
But both episodes so far have gotten a few killer guffaws out of me.—
Andy Andersen,
Vulture,
9 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Chuckles.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/chuckles. Accessed 23 Mar. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
