laughing 1 of 3

as in merry
indicative of or marked by high spirits or good humor the satisfying comedy put us in a laughing mood for the rest of the evening

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

laughing

2 of 3

noun

laughing

3 of 3

verb

present participle of laugh

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 laughing
Noun
The thought of coworkers open-mouthed laughing is enough to jar anyone awake. — Alexandra Hildreth, Vogue, 24 July 2026 A lot of shouting, a lot of laughing, a lot of talk. — Jacob Whitehead, New York Times, 26 June 2026 Keith moved into the center of the balcony, posing and laughing. — Danielle Parker, CBS News, 19 June 2026 Mira and two friends moved to a low wall and huddled around their own smartwatches, whispering and laughing. — Anna Wiener, New Yorker, 4 May 2026 The laughing becomes infectious. — Omar L. Gallaga, Los Angeles Times, 8 Mar. 2026 Belt It Out at Sweet Caroline Karaoke Bar If your idea of a great date involves a little chaos, a lot of laughing, and maybe a surprisingly decent duet, Sweet Caroline Karaoke Bar is calling your name. — Lauren Schuster, Miami Herald, 6 Mar. 2026 The former competitive cheerleader said the laughing was an act of misogyny. — Jay Stahl, USA Today, 24 Feb. 2026 Harbour and Brown arrived together on the red carpet for the premiere of the latest season and were captured on camera laughing, hugging each other and posing for photos. — Kimberlee Speakman, PEOPLE, 7 Nov. 2025
Verb
During one sequence, Swift sits in her director’s chair with Kelce standing behind her, smiling and laughing with his hands lovingly holding her arms. — Hannah Dailey, Billboard, 13 Oct. 2026 Israeli soldiers filmed themselves in high definition laughing, looting homes, destroying entire rows of buildings, humiliating civilians, even killing them. — Literary Hub, 13 Oct. 2026 Larry says, laughing at the memory of this unexpected standoff. — Blake J. Harris, Vulture, 12 Oct. 2026 On Wednesday, the evening before they were set to dock, the mood seemed far more jovial aboard the ship; sailors were chatting and laughing, some were running a 5K around a deck now free of aircraft. — Mosheh Gains, NBC news, 8 Oct. 2026 Several of Seyfried’s friends, including Natalie Portman, left laughing emojis in the comments. — Hannah Malach, InStyle, 7 Oct. 2026 Just being out on the water with a good friend, laughing and trading stories is what makes a fishing trip special. — Austin Perry Outkick, FOXNews.com, 6 Oct. 2026 Prosecutors said that the incidents were captured on camera — and that the parents could be seen laughing at times as their children were forcefully disciplined. — James Queally, Los Angeles Times, 6 Oct. 2026 Both Ruto, behind the wheel, and Chivayo are seen laughing, with Chivayo's wife grinning from the back seat. — Arkansas Online, 2 Oct. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for laughing
Adjective
  • The friendly staff, who wear black uniforms with lettering that identifies their duties add to the hotel’s merry atmosphere.
    — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 30 Sep. 2026
  • This is a place where adults make the pilgrimage to the legendary Pinto Ron and Pizza Pete tailgate spot in the Hammer Lot where Pinto Ron's team of merry pranksters pour shots of liquor into a bowling ball finger hole.
    — Joe Kinsey OutKick, FOXNews.com, 18 Sep. 2026
Noun
  • In the post, De Laurentiis shared an image of Jade, 18, sitting on her dorm bed holding Radiohead’s In Rainbows record and smiling.
    — Chiara Kim, PEOPLE, 31 Aug. 2026
  • The boos were more scattered and barely audible amidst the applause and cheers, which grew louder when the ballpark’s video boards showed the 2018 champ smiling, clapping, and waving from the visitors’ dugout.
    — Gabrielle Starr, Boston Herald, 21 Aug. 2026
Verb
  • Less scrolling on the toilet in fear, more giggling with compatriots in joy.
    — Sarah Larson, New Yorker, 11 Oct. 2026
  • This approach worked for Jean Nelson of Pasadena, California, after her 2-year-old son, Luke, took delight in dragging toilet paper down the hall, giggling as the roll unfurled behind him.
    — Cynthia Hanson, Parents, 13 Sep. 2026
Verb
  • If traditional noir drew much of its energy from sneering with style at America’s sunny master narratives, those narratives have largely broken down, as has the homogenous mass-media ecosystem that endlessly recirculated them.
    — Peter C. Baker, New Yorker, 5 Aug. 2026
  • But the Velvets were sneering at the false dichotomy between those things back in the ’60s.
    — Spencer Kornhaber, The Atlantic, 30 July 2026
Adjective
  • The track opens with a sprinkle of piano before morphing into a jolly celebration that’s really going to hit this holiday season.
    — Angie Martoccio, Rolling Stone, 25 Sep. 2026
  • Both his suggestion and the jolly appreciation seem out of tune with the situation ‘far from home’, which may be a military manoeuvre involving mock battles and bayonet practice, or a preparation for actual combat.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 11 Aug. 2026
Verb
  • The Tío Xavier persona that Becerra supporters have trotted out — a kind, chuckling sage — isn’t what California needs right now.
    — Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 1 Oct. 2026
  • Cubs pitcher David Peterson was coming out of the bullpen to pitch in the eighth inning after the fight took place, and the umpires were chuckling.
    — Paul Sullivan, Chicago Tribune, 19 Aug. 2026
Adjective
  • For the festive gala, Marchand worked with his close friend and stylist Christopher Rao to find the perfect red carpet outfit.
    — Christian Allaire, Vogue, 13 Oct. 2026
  • Other examples are Kilian Paris campaigns for Eid and Ramadan in the Middle East, and the Jo Malone campaign for the festive season of Diwali in Southeast Asia.
    — Jennifer Weil, Footwear News, 9 Oct. 2026
Verb
  • Research on hitting objects does not support it as a way to reduce anger, and there are too few studies of screaming to conclude its effects.
    — Tatiana Sataua, Fortune, 11 Oct. 2026
  • Onstage, Slayyyter, whose real name is Catherine Grace Garner, is a force, constantly moving around the stage, thrashing her head along to the music and screaming the lyrics to her songs.
    — Nicole Fell, HollywoodReporter, 8 Oct. 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Laughing.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/laughing. Accessed 16 Oct. 2026.

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