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
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
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
Grayson chuckles from the pilot’s seat.
—Carly Tagen-Dye, People.com, 8 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
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
Grayson chuckles from the pilot’s seat.
—Carly Tagen-Dye, People.com, 8 Aug. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for chuckles
Noun
-
Mulvaney’s penchant for girlish giggles and squeals between bites of her spaghetti pomodoro stand out in Arno, especially when juxtaposed against the sea of older gentlemen in an assortment of ill-fitting grey blazers sitting behind her at the bar.—
Chris Murphy,
Vanity Fair,
18 Feb. 2026
-
My sisters teased me about my muffled giggles under the covers in the middle of the night.—
Faith Karimi,
CNN Money,
17 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
Lucy laughs and registers that she was just played, again, and Van Patten believes this is the moment that Lucy can finally be free of Stephen.—
Jackie Strause,
HollywoodReporter,
18 Feb. 2026
-
But when the players make plans, Alan Cumming laughs — so even though Rob is particularly well positioned, there’s still plenty of time for things to go left.—
Tom Smyth,
Vulture,
13 Feb. 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 2 Mar. 2026.
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