laughs 1 of 2

verb

present tense third-person singular of laugh
1
as in giggles
to show mirth with an explosive vocal sound everyone laughed when the clown dramatically slipped and fell

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in smiles
to express scornful amusement by means of facial contortions you're going to try out for the football team? Don't make me laugh!

Synonyms & Similar Words

laughs

2 of 2

noun

plural of laugh
1
as in chuckles
an explosive sound that is a sign of amusement the child's frown turned into a laugh when he saw the clown

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in hoots
someone or something that is very funny that new sitcom is a laugh

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in jokes
something said or done to cause laughter the film comedy had a good laugh in just about every scene

Synonyms & Similar 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 laughs
Verb
The friend laughs and dips her head toward her hand on the bar in delight. — Liz Johnson, USA Today, 29 July 2026 Lacy laughs about it now, as a consequence of just how haywire that time was — for him, and everyone. — Los Angeles Times, 22 July 2026 Mensah laughs at getting tiebreaker changed Last year, Darian Mensah led Duke to its first ACC title since 1989. — Adam Lichtenstein, Sun Sentinel, 16 July 2026 King laughs, and warns Carrol against comparing him to Jesus. — Lillie Davidson, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 2 July 2026 Clive Davis was the most humble man in the music business [laughs]. — Jon Blistein, Rolling Stone, 29 June 2026 Kylie laughs and throws another cupful. — Chiara Kim, PEOPLE, 25 June 2026 Lacking Empathy Empathy develops at different rates, says Shaw, but if your child laughs at someone getting hurt, teases others for their feelings, or seems cold when someone else is left out, that could be a red flag. — Sherri Gordon, Parents, 22 June 2026 Grube laughs, knowing the story sounds familiar. — Nick Pietruszkiewicz, Hartford Courant, 21 June 2026
Noun
One part sends me to therapy, the other keeps me sane [laughs]. — Jim Clash, Forbes.com, 9 Aug. 2026 That joke landed, receiving laughs and applause from the crowd. — Jack Dunn, Variety, 8 Aug. 2026 Vinatieri drew plenty of laughs and cheers with jokes about Bill Belichick, Peyton Manning and Tom Brady. — ABC News, 8 Aug. 2026 But there are plenty of affirmative laughs in her roughly 65-minute set, tickets to which are not cheap. — Chris Jones, Chicago Tribune, 7 Aug. 2026 There’s not enough conflict to drive the narrative, and not enough laughs to liven up the dead spots. — Ben Travers, IndieWire, 5 Aug. 2026 Even with more levity and laughs than is typical for a Game of Thrones show, the world of Westeros can really only get so lighthearted. — Joe Reid, Vulture, 1 Aug. 2026 The props team either hated me or loved me, honestly [laughs]. — Kimberly Nordyke, HollywoodReporter, 31 July 2026 Amid laughs, Fallon asked if they were impressed by her being named the highest-grossing actor of all time. — Christina Perrier, InStyle, 31 July 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for laughs
  1. giggles
  2. smiles
  3. chuckles
  4. hoots
  5. jokes
  6. screams
  7. sneers
  8. grins
Verb
  • But Alexca, a bubbly toddler who giggles and runs about, has conquered her grandmother’s heart.
    — Julie Watson, Los Angeles Times, 29 June 2026
  • Herbert then grabs Beer's face and pulls her in for a kiss as the singer giggles.
    — Natasha Dye, PEOPLE, 7 May 2026
Definition of giggles
Verb
  • The castmates could also be seen sharing hugs and smiles on set, both during their scenes and while cameras weren’t rolling.
    — Charlotte Phillipp, PEOPLE, 9 Aug. 2026
  • Guthrie wears a dark dress, a statement necklace, and her hair pulled up, while Kotb smiles broadly in a red button-down.
    — Rachel Burchfield, InStyle, 7 Aug. 2026
Definition of smiles
Noun
  • The risk, though, with horror-comedy—with dinging from chuckles to shrieks and back again—is always an evacuated center.
    — James Parker, The Atlantic, 20 July 2026
  • There was a point in Patrick Paul’s ascension last season where his smirk, his hearty chuckles irritated, if not frustrated his opponents to the point of anger.
    — Omar Kelly, Miami Herald, 26 June 2026
Definition of chuckles
Noun
  • With a few hoots and hollers, and even a couple clucks, the group took off on their ascent to the Betty Bear Hut.
    — Tiney Ricciardi, Denver Post, 30 July 2026
  • Their hoots and hollers drowned Shai Gilgeous-Alexander’s explanation of how a title defense fell short.
    — Joel Lorenzi, New York Times, 31 May 2026
Definition of hoots
Noun
  • Parents are likely to be divided as to whether the fact that the film is aimed squarely at young people, with very little in the way of jokes for adults, is a good or a bad thing.
    — Caspar Salmon, Variety, 7 Aug. 2026
  • This game contains potty humor and jokes that ride the fine line of what some parents may feel is appropriate for their children.
    — BestReviews, Mercury News, 7 Aug. 2026
Definition of jokes
Verb
  • Witness accounts describe chaotic scene In the video, as many as five officers can be seen, and shrieks, screams, and cries are heard.
    — Marvin Hurst, CBS News, 7 Aug. 2026
  • Graham and some of this congregation brought ice cream to their staffs — teenagers mostly, some of whom likely worked the weekend shift and heard the shots and screams next door.
    — Mark Dee, Idaho Statesman, 4 Aug. 2026
Definition of screams
Verb
  • Meanwhile her old-school Communist grandmother sneers at the tactics her Red Diaper daughter employed.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 6 Jan. 2026
  • Jacob sneers, but doesn’t even wait for his son to answer.
    — Kimberly Roots, TVLine, 15 Aug. 2025
Definition of sneers
Verb
  • Schoenaerts menacingly grins his way through the movie, with appealingly bulging eyes.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 24 June 2026
  • Fatima grins, before rejoining the rest of the girls' team for one-on-one drills.
    — Jasmine Garsd, NPR, 16 June 2026
Definition of grins

Browse Nearby Words

laugh off
laughs
laughs (at)
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Cite this Entry

“Laughs.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/laughs. Accessed 10 Aug. 2026.

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