as in chuckle
an explosive sound that is a sign of amusement
managed to keep a straight face for a minute before he let loose with a loud guffaw
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of guffaw
Miami Herald Archives, Miami Herald, 10 May 2025
This sacred sitcom Ark of the Covenant — stuffed with guffaws and chuckles and titters — was used for decades.
—James Hibberd, HollywoodReporter, 9 May 2025
Goldfield is instantly likable as Mort’s better half, urging massive guffaws in some of Kahng’s best characterizations: Cone’s subplot regarding a squirrel builds a duality of both charm and melancholia, Cone’s Vicki finding the humor inside the aging process which faces us all.
—David John Chávez, The Mercury News, 15 Mar. 2025
Like Nikolai Gogol, another Russian-speaking Ukrainian, Mikhailov depicts hardship and pretense with a guffaw.
—Arthur Lubow, New York Times, 13 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for guffaw
Verb
For many who had expected the worst, the overwhelming reaction was relief, followed perhaps by a nervous guffaw.
—Miami Herald Archives, Miami Herald, 10 May 2025
This sacred sitcom Ark of the Covenant — stuffed with guffaws and chuckles and titters — was used for decades.
—James Hibberd, HollywoodReporter, 9 May 2025
Goldfield is instantly likable as Mort’s better half, urging massive guffaws in some of Kahng’s best characterizations: Cone’s subplot regarding a squirrel builds a duality of both charm and melancholia, Cone’s Vicki finding the humor inside the aging process which faces us all.
—David John Chávez, The Mercury News, 15 Mar. 2025
Like Nikolai Gogol, another Russian-speaking Ukrainian, Mikhailov depicts hardship and pretense with a guffaw.
—Arthur Lubow, New York Times, 13 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for guffaw
Recent Examples of Synonyms for guffaw
Noun
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Bush are flops that remain well worth a chuckle.—
Will Leitch,
New York Times,
7 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
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Dratch also continued to giggle through lines for the rest of the sketch, and her occasional pauses to get her bearings were met with joyous applause from the SNL audience.—
Wesley Stenzel,
Entertainment Weekly,
10 Oct. 2025
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In a video added to Johnson's Instagram Stories, Rome smiled and giggled as the paramedic talked with him, moving to place the oxygen mask on his face.—
Hannah Sacks,
PEOPLE,
8 Oct. 2025
Noun
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Elizabeth and Dominic's 95 guests burst into laughter as the dog jumped into the fountain and began walking around, licking up water.—
Ashlyn Robinette,
PEOPLE,
10 Oct. 2025
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The comedian eventually flubbed a line and broke into laughter while performing the sketch on live TV.—
Wesley Stenzel,
Entertainment Weekly,
10 Oct. 2025
Verb
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Those who pointed and laughed at Stevenson’s lowest football moment last year likely never realized the difficulty of his trek.—
Dan Wiederer,
New York Times,
7 Oct. 2025
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Trailer footage reveals tension that seriously ramp-up between Grace and Jackson in their rural home, including shots of Lawrence’s character wondering through an open field with a shotgun, laughing maniacally.—
Tom Tapp,
Deadline,
6 Oct. 2025
Noun
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Early never makes fun of Maddie, never lets the audience snicker at the screen.—
Sam Bodrojan,
IndieWire,
7 Sep. 2025
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The carnage leads to a sigh of an epilogue that seems, without giving anything away, like a curious letdown, a cruel little snicker from Aster that doesn’t entirely satisfy.—
Randy Myers,
Mercury News,
15 July 2025
Cite this Entry
“Guffaw.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/guffaw. Accessed 14 Oct. 2025.
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