Merriam-Webster Logo
SINCE 1828
Menu
dictionary thesaurus

Thesaurus

laugh

noun

Synonyms and Antonyms of laugh

1 an explosive sound that is a sign of amusement
  • the childʼs frown turned into a laugh when he saw the clown
Synonyms of laugh

belly laugh, boff (or boffo), boffola, cachinnation, cackle, chortle, chuckle, giggle, guffaw, hee-haw, horselaugh, laughter, snicker, snigger, titter, twitter
Words Related to laugh

crow, whoop

grin, simper, smile, smirk
Near Antonyms of laugh

cry, groan, moan, sob, wail

face, frown, grimace, lower (also lour), mouth, pout, scowl
2 someone or something that is very funny
  • that new sitcom is a laugh
Synonyms of laugh

hoot, knee-slapper, riot, scream
Words Related to laugh

boner, howler

crack, gag, jest, joke, pleasantry, quip, sally, waggery, wisecrack, witticism

caution, sight
Near Antonyms of laugh

bummer, downer
3 something said or done to cause laughter
  • the film comedy had a good laugh in just about every scene
Synonyms of laugh

boff (or boffo), boffola, crack, drollery, funny, gag, giggle [chiefly British], jape, jest, joke, josh, nifty, one-liner, pleasantry, quip, rib, sally, waggery, wisecrack, witticism, yuk (or yuck) [slang]
Words Related to laugh

funning, joking, wisecracking

knee-slapper, panic [slang], riot, scream, thigh-slapper

antic, buffoonery, caper, leg-pull, monkeyshine(s), practical joke, prank, trick

burlesque, caricature, lampoon, mock, mockery, parody, put-on, riff

banter, kidding, persiflage, raillery, repartee

drollness, facetiousness, funniness, hilariousness, humorousness

comedy, humor, wit, wordplay

laugh

verb

Synonyms and Antonyms of laugh

1 to show mirth with an explosive vocal sound
  • everyone laughed when the clown dramatically slipped and fell
Synonyms of laugh

break up, cackle, chortle, chuckle, crack up, giggle, hee-haw, roar, scream, snicker, titter, twitter
Words Related to laugh

grin, smile
Phrases Synonymous with laugh

split one's sides
Near Antonyms of laugh

bawl, blubber, cry, sob, weep

howl, scream, squall, wail, yowl

bleat, pule, whimper, whine

sniffle, snivel

groan, moan, sigh
2 to express scornful amusement by means of facial contortions
  • youʼre going to try out for the football team? Donʼt make me laugh!
Synonyms of laugh

smile, sneer, snicker, snigger
Words Related to laugh

sniff, snort

catcall, deride, gibe (or jibe), hoot, insult, jeer, mock, ridicule

decry, despise, disdain

scoff (at), scorn

bad-mouth, belittle, disparage, pooh-pooh (also pooh), put down

heckle, jive, razz, rib, ride, taunt, tease, torment

Learn More about laugh

  1. See words that rhyme with laugh Dictionary: Definition of laugh Spanish Central: Translation of laugh Nglish: Translation of laugh for Spanish speakers Britannica English: Translation of laugh for Arabic speakers

Seen and Heard

What made you want to look up laugh? Please tell us where you read or heard it (including the quote, if possible).

show comments hide comments

Love words? Need even more definitions?

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

WORD OF THE DAY

hamartia

Listen to the pronounciation of hamartia

a flaw that causes the downfall of a hero

Get Word of the Day daily email!

TRENDING NOW

  1. mendacious, mendacity George Conway calls Trump a liar

  2. crawdad New novel makes waves

  3. non sequitur, sequitur Manafort judge addresses defense

SEE ALL

Love words? Need even more definitions?

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

Words at Play

Ask the Editors

Word Games