laugh off

verb

Definition of laugh offnext
as in to minimize

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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 laugh off Continue reading … HOT AIR – AOC tries to laugh off 'crazy' woke era as thing of the past, but conservatives aren't amused. — FOXNews.com, 11 Aug. 2026 Though Blakely was able to laugh off the mistake, the damage would be significant. — Caroline Price, Forbes.com, 9 Aug. 2026 Prince William laughed off the question from Heart Breakfast hosts Jamie Theakston and Amanda Holden. — Meredith Kile, PEOPLE, 26 May 2026 The casual references to him as a billionaire, however, is one gibe that Lamont laughs off. — Mark Pazniokas, Hartford Courant, 13 Apr. 2026 See All Example Sentences for laugh off
Recent Examples of Synonyms for laugh off
  1. minimize
  2. play down
  3. shrug off
  4. discount
  5. undervalue
  6. belittle
  7. underrate
Verb
  • The 49ers have played from ahead in each of their three games, minimizing obvious passing situations and third-and-longs.
    — Chris Biderman, Sacbee.com, 30 Sep. 2026
  • Those challenges include performing nonlinear operations, incorporating memory, maintaining computational precision, minimizing optical losses and integrating photonic components with conventional electronics.
    — Neetika Walter, Interesting Engineering, 30 Sep. 2026
Definition of minimize
Verb
  • Trottier played down the middle in both games in his first rookie tournament and handled himself admirably.
    — Scott Wheeler, New York Times, 14 Sep. 2026
  • With the Kroenke deal, the Angels will plug into a much larger sports and media ecosystem that should benefit the team that has always played down the road in Orange County in the shadow of the region’s beloved Los Angeles Dodgers franchise.
    — Cynthia Littleton, Variety, 1 Sep. 2026
Definition of play down
Verb
  • Wrapped in a tough, drop-proof fabric shell that floats and shrugs off water, it is engineered to survive real-world chaos.
    — Juhi Wadia, PC Magazine, 28 Sep. 2026
  • Vargo, 71, shrugged off criticism in an interview with the Orlando Sentinel.
    — Stephen Hudak, The Orlando Sentinel, 24 Sep. 2026
Definition of shrug off
Verb
  • In contrast, some discount the 1960s dates and consider the start to be 1972, when the ZANLA insurgency began a new, more intense level of guerrilla fighting.
    — Chinatsu Tsuji, Encyclopedia Britannica, 29 Sep. 2026
  • And while radio and streaming usually end up being bigger and more consequential parts of the Hot 100’s three-component formula in 2026, the third component — digital song sales — shouldn’t be discounted either.
    — Andrew Unterberger, Billboard, 29 Sep. 2026
Definition of discount
Verb
  • The Cubs have been able to find pitchers who were undervalued over the years and maximize their talent, but at some point, there needs to be more certainty.
    — Sahadev Sharma, New York Times, 3 Oct. 2026
  • To call the poems poignant would be to undervalue their direct power.
    — Colm Tóibín, Literary Hub, 30 Sep. 2026
Definition of undervalue
Verb
  • And yet, these same commentators who proudly belittle Clark and Cunningham continue to claim that Black lesbian women are the ones the sports media relentlessly targets.
    — Bobby Burack OutKick, FOXNews.com, 2 Oct. 2026
  • People who post puerile, profane or belittling comments are protesters on a virtual street.
    — Chris Roemer, Baltimore Sun, 1 Oct. 2026
Definition of belittle
Verb
  • The thing people always underrate about the 2000s is how many of us were not going to the movies to feel good.
    — Darren Franich, HollywoodReporter, 11 Sep. 2026
  • Amazon’s jewelry selection is hugely underrated, in my humble opinion, and this $10 layered necklace is a pretty good example of why.
    — Annie Blackman, InStyle, 4 Sep. 2026
Definition of underrate

Browse Nearby Words

laughingstocks
laugh off
laughs
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Cite this Entry

“Laugh off.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/laugh%20off. Accessed 7 Oct. 2026.

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