as in chuckles
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 guffaws
Emily Nussbaum, New Yorker, 16 Apr. 2026
Expect guffaws, and bring tissues.
—Scott Hocker, TheWeek, 18 Mar. 2026
But both episodes so far have gotten a few killer guffaws out of me.
—Andy Andersen, Vulture, 9 Mar. 2026
So, after the sombrero drew hearty guffaws, my friend Jim busied himself finding monuments to chip-and-dip tastelessness.
—Lee Michael Katz, USA Today, 20 Dec. 2025
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
Noun
There were waves of guffaws and, also, supportive finger-snapping.
—Emily Nussbaum, New Yorker, 16 Apr. 2026
Expect guffaws, and bring tissues.
—Scott Hocker, TheWeek, 18 Mar. 2026
But both episodes so far have gotten a few killer guffaws out of me.
—Andy Andersen, Vulture, 9 Mar. 2026
So, after the sombrero drew hearty guffaws, my friend Jim busied himself finding monuments to chip-and-dip tastelessness.
—Lee Michael Katz, USA Today, 20 Dec. 2025
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
Recent Examples of Synonyms for guffaws
Noun
-
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
-
And what begins as a clever, high-concept joke doesn’t always build beyond a steady stream of chuckles.—
Dave Quinn,
PEOPLE,
21 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Herbert then grabs Beer's face and pulls her in for a kiss as the singer giggles.—
Natasha Dye,
PEOPLE,
7 May 2026
-
The teaser video that followed showed a device straight out of a sci-fi film, something between Wall-E and BB-8, with a camera that giggles and swivels on command.—
Aamir Khollam,
Interesting Engineering,
15 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
Yakkity’s impulsiveness and wisecracking jokes provide the laughs, while Keo’s rivalry with his father (and his crush on Lemony) ground the show with genuine emotional dynamics.—
Skyler Trepel,
Entertainment Weekly,
20 June 2026
-
The fallout of that inquiry—to which Joe and Angela gamely acquiesce—generates its share of laughs, though our amusement comes at a cost.—
Justin Chang,
New Yorker,
19 June 2026
Verb
-
The blackbird really chortles away.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
23 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
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
-
The event also had free opportunities to take photos, get ice cream snickers and have earned a Super Bowl post card.—
Veronica Fernandez-Alvarado
Updated February 5,
Sacbee.com,
5 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
Kōnane cackles with the frayed voice of a centuries-old elder.—
Matt Negrin,
Rolling Stone,
20 Sep. 2025
-
But her signature cackles always give up the game.—
Kathryn VanArendonk,
Vulture,
15 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Guffaws.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/guffaws. Accessed 25 Jun. 2026.
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