as in smiling
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as in laughing
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 chuckling
Big Think, 5 Nov. 2025
Flacco spent most of his postgame interview chuckling about the unpredictable last 10 days that have landed him back in the NFL's spotlight in his 18th season.
—Andrew Greif, NBC news, 17 Oct. 2025
During the team’s media day on Monday, Yang spoke some English but in mid-sentence would revert back to Chinese, producing a mix of English and Chinese that leaves the affable 7-footer chuckling at himself.
—Jason Quick, New York Times, 30 Sep. 2025
So Cali sucked her teeth, chuckling.
—Bryan Washington, New Yorker, 7 Sep. 2025
Forbes walked away chuckling to himself.
—Luca Evans, Denver Post, 17 Aug. 2025
Verb
These are uncontroversial jokes that aim to bring people together and get everyone chuckling or smiling along.
—Big Think, 5 Nov. 2025
Flacco spent most of his postgame interview chuckling about the unpredictable last 10 days that have landed him back in the NFL's spotlight in his 18th season.
—Andrew Greif, NBC news, 17 Oct. 2025
During the team’s media day on Monday, Yang spoke some English but in mid-sentence would revert back to Chinese, producing a mix of English and Chinese that leaves the affable 7-footer chuckling at himself.
—Jason Quick, New York Times, 30 Sep. 2025
So Cali sucked her teeth, chuckling.
—Bryan Washington, New Yorker, 7 Sep. 2025
Forbes walked away chuckling to himself.
—Luca Evans, Denver Post, 17 Aug. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for chuckling
Adjective
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As Thomas’ parents, Katina Smith and Bobby Thomas, unveiled their son’s smiling statue in the Broncos’ Ring of Fame Plaza last Sunday, as scores of his former teammates looked on in sadness and joy, Miller was 800 miles away in Dallas, gearing up for a game against the Cowboys.—
Luca Evans,
Denver Post,
24 Oct. 2025
Verb
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After the announcement, Musk celebrated the vote on a stage at the shareholder meeting, dancing and laughing alongside a pair of robots.—
David Ingram,
NBC news,
6 Nov. 2025
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The longtime fitness buff showed up to their home in Colorado looking overweight, rarely smiling or laughing, and was withdrawn.—
Allison Gordon,
CNN Money,
6 Nov. 2025
Adjective
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The candid clip has led to plenty of amused reactions from viewers.—
Melissa Fleur Afshar,
MSNBC Newsweek,
31 Oct. 2025
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But it's so often used to mean amused, some dictionaries now include that meaning.—
Kathy and Ross Petrass,
CNBC,
23 Oct. 2025
Verb
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DeGeneres and de Rossi can be heard giggling as their two dogs chase each other around the space.—
Natalia Senanayake,
PEOPLE,
21 Oct. 2025
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Beyond them, there are plenty of cases of mysterious footsteps, giggling invisible children and unexplained green orbs appearing in photos.—
Maggie Menderski,
Louisville Courier Journal,
8 Oct. 2025
Adjective
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Haim managed to put on a show that felt about 95% mirthful while still honoring the integrity of the new songs that dig emotionally deeper.—
Chris Willman,
Variety,
14 Oct. 2025
Adjective
-
Kunstnernes Hus has a café, and that day it was filled with groups of hip-looking mothers and their gleeful toddlers; a few lone guys, in jeans and sneakers, tapped on laptops.—
Margaret Talbot,
New Yorker,
3 Nov. 2025
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The names go on and on, a gleeful send-up of what was, at the time of its premiere in 1997, the peak of sophistication.—
Jackson McHenry,
Vulture,
31 Oct. 2025
Adjective
-
The Hornets for all of their intense in-game play are often a jovial lot.—
Joe Davidson,
Sacbee.com,
19 Oct. 2025
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In another vignette, Swift is part of a Supremes-like girl group entertaining a speakeasy full of jovial patrons.—
Lauren Huff,
Entertainment Weekly,
6 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Chuckling.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/chuckling. Accessed 13 Nov. 2025.
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