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
David Sims, The Atlantic, 5 June 2026
And what begins as a clever, high-concept joke doesn’t always build beyond a steady stream of chuckles.
—Dave Quinn, PEOPLE, 21 Apr. 2026
The line was met with one or two chuckles from the hearing room, which was at capacity.
—Kevin Breuninger,jeff Cox,alex Harring,matt Peterson, CNBC, 21 Apr. 2026
Premium cable, with its grit and cursing and nudity, is not the natural habitat of an actor who thrives on the chuckles of studio audiences.
—Judy Berman, Time, 17 Mar. 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.
—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
Lauren Brown West-Rosenthal, Parents, 8 June 2026
Krystn Maher chuckles, not wanting to discourage them.
—Laylan Connelly, Oc Register, 23 Mar. 2026
Dan Monson chuckles now at the memory.
—Andrew Greif, NBC news, 21 Mar. 2026
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
Noun
Even Saturday Night Live’s reigning king of smarm, Colin Jost, playing a henpecked husband, got some chuckles out of me.
—David Sims, The Atlantic, 5 June 2026
And what begins as a clever, high-concept joke doesn’t always build beyond a steady stream of chuckles.
—Dave Quinn, PEOPLE, 21 Apr. 2026
The line was met with one or two chuckles from the hearing room, which was at capacity.
—Kevin Breuninger,jeff Cox,alex Harring,matt Peterson, CNBC, 21 Apr. 2026
Premium cable, with its grit and cursing and nudity, is not the natural habitat of an actor who thrives on the chuckles of studio audiences.
—Judy Berman, Time, 17 Mar. 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.
—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
Verb
When asked if Mikita shares his need for tidiness, Ferguson chuckles.
—Lauren Brown West-Rosenthal, Parents, 8 June 2026
Krystn Maher chuckles, not wanting to discourage them.
—Laylan Connelly, Oc Register, 23 Mar. 2026
Dan Monson chuckles now at the memory.
—Andrew Greif, NBC news, 21 Mar. 2026
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
Recent Examples of Synonyms for chuckles
Noun
-
One highlight of this tenure was his descent into a fit of giggles while interviewing Carol Channing.—
Mark Kennedy,
Fortune,
15 June 2026
-
One highlight of this tenure was his descent into a fit of giggles while interviewing Carol Channing.—
Mark Kennedy,
Chicago Tribune,
13 June 2026
Verb
-
But give me a beautiful suit and an audience that laughs at my jokes.—
Michael Schneider,
Variety,
15 June 2026
-
Sign up for a short class that excites you, or map a weekend day trip with a friend who laughs easily.—
Tarot.com,
The Orlando Sentinel,
13 June 2026
Noun
-
There were snickers from some of the other students, including a tall and lank-haired kid whose name Adele didn’t know.—
Jonathan Franzen,
New Yorker,
1 June 2026
-
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
Noun
-
There were waves of guffaws and, also, supportive finger-snapping.—
Emily Nussbaum,
New Yorker,
16 Apr. 2026
-
Expect guffaws, and bring tissues.—
Scott Hocker,
TheWeek,
18 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Chuckles.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/chuckles. Accessed 21 Jun. 2026.
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