laugh off

verb

Definition of laugh offnext
as in to minimize

Related Words

Relevance

Dissimilar Words

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 The camera quickly cut to Chalamet, who laughed off the joke. — Carolyn Burt, Oc Register, 15 Mar. 2026 Some people will laugh off that idea; greatness is hard to define in an age when everyone has their own criteria for that label. — Ray Mark Rinaldi, Denver Post, 1 Dec. 2025 As Washington approached, the photographer tried to laugh off the confrontation and put his hands around the actor’s arm. — Zack Sharf, Variety, 14 Nov. 2025 Give yourself some grace, laugh off the awkward interactions, and remember that every misstep is just another story to bring home. — Symiah Dorsey, Southern Living, 15 Aug. 2025 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
  • Doctors are emphasizing the importance of minimizing your time in the smoke as much as possible.
    — Jen Christensen, CNN Money, 18 July 2026
  • Franchisors, franchisees, distributors, and food manufacturers increasingly rely upon rigorous supplier audits, product testing, traceability technology, and crisis response protocols to minimize both operational disruption and public health risks.
    — Gary Occhiogrosso, Forbes.com, 17 July 2026
Definition of minimize
Verb
  • In an interview with British newspaper The Times in 2024, Fricker played down her Oscar achievement.
    — Lianne Kolirin, CNN Money, 17 July 2026
  • In Moscow, the Kremlin played down the importance of Fedorov's dismissal — despite his role in shaping Ukraine's attack drone program against the Russian interior.
    — Joanna Kakissis, NPR, 16 July 2026
Definition of play down
Verb
  • PayPal has been working with investment banks on takeover and activist defense for the last few months and had already shrugged off initial overtures from Stripe, Semafor reported earlier this year.
    — Rohan Goswami, semafor.com, 15 July 2026
  • China has largely shrugged off wider economic impacts from the Iran war as soaring energy prices pushed up global inflation.
    — Chan Ho-Him, Fortune, 15 July 2026
Definition of shrug off
Verb
  • They're currently priced at US$269 (discounted from the list price of $299), which is fair given its basic feature set – and that's a lot less than other devices with AR capabilities and Android built in.
    — New Atlas, New Atlas, 17 July 2026
  • Value is being redefined through craftsmanship, longevity and authenticity rather than discounting alone.
    — Kate Hardcastle, Forbes.com, 17 July 2026
Definition of discount
Verb
  • Rosenblatt initiates Securitize as buy Rosenblatt said the fintech company is undervalued.
    — Michael Bloom, CNBC, 15 July 2026
  • Since managers reliably undervalue the innovator, don't leave sharing to their goodwill.
    — Mark Murphy, Forbes.com, 8 July 2026
Definition of undervalue
Verb
  • Will’s obsessive, put-upon mother, Susan (Tandi Wright), belittles Alice, dresses her down for her attire at the funeral, and forces her to wear heels that don’t fit, leaving her feet bloody.
    — Angelica Jade Bastién, Vulture, 10 July 2026
  • Platner insulted members of the military and belittled Bronze Star winners.
    — Bobby Zirkin, Baltimore Sun, 9 July 2026
Definition of belittle
Verb
  • Research consistently shows that Black women’s pain is underrated, their concerns dismissed, and their symptoms attributed to non-clinical causes.
    — Ashoka, Forbes.com, 8 July 2026
  • Berchild is a hardworking player with good skill and a good shot; people at the program will argue he’s been underrated.
    — Scott Wheeler, New York Times, 27 June 2026
Definition of underrate

Browse Nearby Words

laughingstocks
laugh off
laughs
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Laugh off.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/laugh%20off. Accessed 21 Jul. 2026.

Copy Citation

More from Merriam-Webster on laugh off

Nglish: Translation of laugh off for Spanish Speakers

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

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

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

Listen to the pronunciation of dog days

See Definitions and Examples »

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

'A' or 'an'? What about before 'h'? An Indefinite Article Guide

Do you 'say your piece' or 'say your peace'?

Why is '-ed' sometimes pronounced at the end of a word?

Commonly Misspelled Words
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

It's a Scorcher! Words for the Summer Heat

The Longest Long Words List

Ten Words Ending with a Silent ‘T’

Why do we say 'fly off the handle'?
See More

Popular

See More

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

It's a Scorcher! Words for the Summer Heat
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
The Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
child-detective
Spot the Misspelled Word July 2026 Those little red underlines can't help you now...
See All