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
Eric Renner Brown, Billboard, 11 Nov. 2025
Everybody behind the camera could barely hold back the guffaws.
—Cameron Crowe, HollywoodReporter, 24 Oct. 2025
Amy Nicholson, Los Angeles Times, 11 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for guffaw
Noun
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
Everybody behind the camera could barely hold back the guffaws.
—Cameron Crowe, HollywoodReporter, 24 Oct. 2025
Verb
Tykes get slapped around, shot with arrows and dangled in traffic — tortures that are played seriously, but the shock of them allows you to guffaw.
—Amy Nicholson, Los Angeles Times, 11 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for guffaw
Recent Examples of Synonyms for guffaw
Noun
-
As Ross runs off, on to the next part of the show, commentator John Helm lets out a hearty chuckle.—
Jack Lang,
New York Times,
9 June 2026
-
Even Saturday Night Live’s reigning king of smarm, Colin Jost, playing a henpecked husband, got some chuckles out of me.—
David Sims,
The Atlantic,
5 June 2026
Verb
-
This episode is hilarious, but it’s been so ruthlessly hacked down to giggle moments and ironic smash-cuts that important action and context are missing.—
Tasha Robinson,
Vulture,
16 June 2026
-
The couple giggled between kisses and lounged on a red-and-white picnic blanket while overlooking the Pacific Ocean.—
Tracy Wright,
FOXNews.com,
16 June 2026
Noun
-
After the laughter ringing through the room subsides, though, Abela does allow for a moment of reverence — for the HBO drama if not for the disreputable people who populate it.—
Matt Brennan,
Los Angeles Times,
17 June 2026
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Our goal with Scary Movie was to bring laughter back to the world.—
Brian Davids,
HollywoodReporter,
17 June 2026
Verb
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Parts of the ad featured realistic-looking footage of Massie walking, dining, and laughing with the two.—
Brady Knox,
The Washington Examiner,
20 June 2026
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The High Museum of Art is also hosting a Juneteenth event for visitors to tour the art galleries, make art of their own, listen to stories and poetry, laugh with comedians and dance during a Tambor Party.—
Irene Wright,
USA Today,
19 June 2026
Noun
-
The grown-ups in the audience snicker.—
Amy Nicholson,
Los Angeles Times,
3 June 2026
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There were snickers from some of the other students, including a tall and lank-haired kid whose name Adele didn’t know.—
Jonathan Franzen,
New Yorker,
1 June 2026
Cite this Entry
“Guffaw.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/guffaw. Accessed 23 Jun. 2026.
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