as in giggles
an explosive sound that is a sign of amusement
a quick chuckle at the funny comment
Synonyms & Similar Words
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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
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Recent Examples of chuckles
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
But places that earn chuckles could be getting gasps and guffaws; moments that feel generally meditative could be devastating, if Lloyd were more interested in character work and less in mise en scène.
—Sara Holdren, Vulture, 29 Sep. 2025
His friends respond with knowing chuckles.
—Andy Rose, CNN Money, 2 Sep. 2025
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
Grayson chuckles from the pilot’s seat.
—Carly Tagen-Dye, People.com, 8 Aug. 2025
Noun
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
But places that earn chuckles could be getting gasps and guffaws; moments that feel generally meditative could be devastating, if Lloyd were more interested in character work and less in mise en scène.
—Sara Holdren, Vulture, 29 Sep. 2025
His friends respond with knowing chuckles.
—Andy Rose, CNN Money, 2 Sep. 2025
Verb
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
Grayson chuckles from the pilot’s seat.
—Carly Tagen-Dye, People.com, 8 Aug. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for chuckles
Noun
-
The weekly gatherings of knitters at Needle & Skein, a yarn store in Minneapolis, are typically filled with giggles and storytelling.—
Ava Berger,
NPR,
31 Jan. 2026
-
On Tuesday morning, the Oscar winner ended her Today interview with host Craig Melvin in giggles after making a simple mistake, confusing one TV network for another.—
Shania Russell,
Entertainment Weekly,
6 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
TikTokers around the world are racking up likes and laughs with their impressions of owls.—
Saleen Martin,
USA Today,
27 Jan. 2026
-
Nahmias turned 33 on January 7; and while many other Millennials—the generation of the overwhelmed and overstimulated—would show frustration with the noise, Nahmias laughs it off.—
José Criales-Unzueta,
Vanity Fair,
20 Jan. 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
-
So, after the sombrero drew hearty guffaws, my friend Jim busied himself finding monuments to chip-and-dip tastelessness.—
Lee Michael Katz,
USA Today,
20 Dec. 2025
-
This was the first year in recent memory where none of the nominees in the big four categories set off a hearty round of guffaws across my various chats and social media feeds.—
Eric Renner Brown,
Billboard,
11 Nov. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Chuckles.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/chuckles. Accessed 11 Feb. 2026.
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