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
  • To minimize risks during outdoor work, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) advises incorporating frequent rest breaks in shaded or air-conditioned areas.
    — NC Weather Bot, Charlotte Observer, 11 July 2026
  • Using that information, the system can infer how adjusting these parameters can minimize certain errors.
    — John Timmer, ArsTechnica, 10 July 2026
Definition of minimize
Verb
  • The host nation won comfortably despite playing down a man from the 64th minute on.
    — Veronica Fernandez-Alvarado, Sacbee.com, 1 July 2026
  • Even for the Kremlin, which often plays down painful setbacks, the stark reality has become hard to sidestep.
    — Matthew Chance, CNN Money, 29 June 2026
Definition of play down
Verb
  • Economies involved in the AI boom will shrug off the effects of the war as equipment sales, rising stock indexes, and perhaps even growing worker productivity promote confidence among businesses and consumers.
    — Idrees Kahloon, The Atlantic, 9 July 2026
  • Clinicians and patients are much less likely to tolerate robot mistakes that might be shrugged off for consumer robotics, Bhushan said.
    — Jeremy Hsu, ArsTechnica, 7 July 2026
Definition of shrug off
Verb
  • While the threshold sparked debate, the decree offers financial incentives for parties to merge by discounting registration fees for coalitions and alliances.
    — Jacqueline Charles, Miami Herald, 10 July 2026
  • One of the best Adidas bag deals right now can be found on Amazon, where the brand’s Defender 5 (or Defender IV) Duffel Bag is discounted to just $17 — more than 60% off.
    — Tim Chan, Footwear News, 9 July 2026
Definition of discount
Verb
  • Since managers reliably undervalue the innovator, don't leave sharing to their goodwill.
    — Mark Murphy, Forbes.com, 8 July 2026
  • Bank of America upgrades T-Mobile to buy from neutral Bank of America said shares are undervalued.
    — Michael Bloom, CNBC, 6 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 15 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!

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

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

Is that lie 'bald-faced' or 'bold-faced'?

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

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’

The Words of the Week - Jul 10
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
banana-mirrored
Contradictory Words Quiz Pick out which word means one thing…and the opp...
See All