as in laughing
to express an emotion (as amusement) by curving the lips upward
grinned at the kids' fooling around in the pool
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in smiling
Related Words
Dissimilar Words
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 grin
Mona Awad, New Yorker, 20 July 2025
The image shows Gigi with a wide, almost-manic grin, her eyes gleaming.
—Maria Morava, MSNBC Newsweek, 8 July 2025
Caroline Price, Forbes.com, 9 July 2025
Robert Thomson, the feisty and recently re-upped CEO of News Corp. was seen grinning in a baseball cap and floral button-down, untucked.
—Jill Goldsmith, Deadline, 9 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for grin
Verb
Looking into Number Twelve’s hazel eyes, her wide grin, felt like looking into a dark chasm; to pretend that this woman was a legitimate neighbor horrified her.
—Mona Awad, New Yorker, 20 July 2025
The image shows Gigi with a wide, almost-manic grin, her eyes gleaming.
—Maria Morava, MSNBC Newsweek, 8 July 2025
Noun
In the first test, Retton grinned while failing to properly track the officer’s finger without moving her head.
—Caroline Price, Forbes.com, 9 July 2025
Robert Thomson, the feisty and recently re-upped CEO of News Corp. was seen grinning in a baseball cap and floral button-down, untucked.
—Jill Goldsmith, Deadline, 9 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for grin
Recent Examples of Synonyms for grin
Noun
-
Another even less favorable interpretation is that artificial refers to being pseudo or half-baked, such as saying that a person’s smile was artificial.—
Lance Eliot,
Forbes.com,
28 July 2025
-
Gretchen Walsh came out with a big smile, waving to the crowd.—
Zack Pierce,
New York Times,
28 July 2025
Noun
-
There was an expression on his face, something between a smile and a smirk.—
Mona Awad,
New Yorker,
20 July 2025
-
Liam McNeeley’s eyes widened, preceding a devilish smirk.—
Roderick Boone,
Charlotte Observer,
13 July 2025
Cite this Entry
“Grin.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/grin. Accessed 6 Aug. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share