giggle 1 of 2

noun

Definition of gigglenext
1
as in laugh
chiefly British something said or done to cause laughter poking fun at the royal family is nothing new, but this movie comedy has a few giggles you haven't heard before

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance
2
as in chuckle
an explosive sound that is a sign of amusement couldn't help but giggle at his remark

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

giggle

2 of 2

verb

ˈgi-gəl How to pronounce giggle (audio)
as in to laugh
to show mirth with an explosive vocal sound some audience members thought that they were being clever by giggling during the serious scenes

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 giggle
Noun
One highlight of this tenure was his descent into a fit of giggles while interviewing Carol Channing. — Mark Kennedy, Fortune, 15 June 2026 Judging by the increasingly loud chatter and giggles, the constantly refilled carafes of house red wine were a hit amongst our group—and the rest of the diners that night. — Tara Massouleh McCay, Southern Living, 11 June 2026
Verb
The audience of employees lapped up every word, giggled at every dad joke. — Claire Stapleton, New Yorker, 18 July 2026 More than a decade older than some of her competitors, Ohashi can’t help but giggle at how circuitous her path has been. — Los Angeles Times, 10 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for giggle
Recent Examples of Synonyms for giggle
  1. laugh
  2. chuckle
  3. joke
  4. laughter
  5. joking
  6. snicker
Noun
  • The props team either hated me or loved me, honestly [laughs].
    — Kimberly Nordyke, HollywoodReporter, 31 July 2026
  • Haven, in particular, drew many laughs from the audience by playing Lee’s dull boyfriend Peter as a cartoonish surfer boy stereotype.
    — Wilson Chapman, IndieWire, 29 July 2026
Definition of laugh
Noun
  • The risk, though, with horror-comedy—with dinging from chuckles to shrieks and back again—is always an evacuated center.
    — James Parker, The Atlantic, 20 July 2026
  • And while most of the film is unrelentingly grim, its few stabs at dark humor — most notably the punchlines about the grandmother’s faulty memory — didn’t garner a chuckle from me.
    — Angelica Jade Bastién, Vulture, 10 July 2026
Definition of chuckle
Noun
  • But Roth’s it’s-all-a-big-joke attitude here is a cop-out that’s beneath him, a way to avoid making a horror movie that truly engages us.
    — Owen Gleiberman, Variety, 4 Aug. 2026
  • Write the honest sentence, take the quiet walk, and tell the truth without decorating it for comfort or turning it into a joke today.
    — Tarot.com, The Orlando Sentinel, 3 Aug. 2026
Definition of joke
Noun
  • Billy Ray brought so much joy, light, and laughter to the world as a devoted father, husband, son, and loyal friend.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 30 July 2026
  • Despite being confined to her bed, covered in tubes, tangled in wires, despite being separated by gloves and masks and isolation gowns, our laughter permeated all those barriers.
    — Anna Tsioulias, STAT, 29 July 2026
Definition of laughter
Noun
  • Back in December 1968, Dolan wrote a joking column about the earlier Lake Worth monster, from way back in 1947.
    — Star-Telegram staff, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 10 July 2026
  • Oh, but the Padres manager was ready with the joking last night.
    — Kevin Acee, San Diego Union-Tribune, 21 June 2026
Definition of joking
Noun
  • Classic cookies come in 11 flavors like chocolate chip, oatmeal raisin, peanut butter, snicker doodle, white chocolate macadamia nut, fruity pebbles, monster and white chocolate cranberry.
    — Ella Gonzales, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 29 July 2026
  • As is, this is a foolish thriller that prompts the occasional snicker but not much more.
    — Randy Myers, Mercury News, 9 July 2026
Definition of snicker

Browse Nearby Words

gigging
giggle
giggled
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Giggle.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/giggle. Accessed 5 Aug. 2026.

Copy Citation

More from Merriam-Webster on giggle

Nglish: Translation of giggle for Spanish Speakers

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

7 Pairs of Commonly Confused Words

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

Is it 'nerve-racking' or 'nerve-wracking'?

'Sneaked' or 'Snuck': Which is correct?

Why does English have so many silent letters?
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

Dutch Treat and French Leave: Eight Place-Based Compounds

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

The Longest Long Words List

How long is a jiffy?

Even More Bird Names that Sound Like Insults (and Sometimes Are)
See More

Popular

See More

7 Pairs of Commonly Confused Words

Dutch Treat and French Leave: Eight Place-Based Compounds

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
The Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
asap street sign
Figure Out These Acronyms ASAP You don't have to be a NASA engineer to get these...
See All