1
as in giggles
to show mirth with an explosive vocal sound
everyone laughed when the clown dramatically slipped and fell
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
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
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
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Recent Examples of laughs
Preezy Brown, VIBE.com, 11 May 2026
Well, perhaps that’s in the messaging of the people hosting the Met Ball [laughs].
—José Criales-Unzueta, Vanity Fair, 6 May 2026
This advertised butt jokes, campy fight montages and sinister Seth Rogen laughs.
—Clare Mulroy, USA Today, 28 Apr. 2026
One can see why wrestling appealed to him—the crowd is everything, the rules mean nothing, and the referees are so feckless that they often get knocked out and everyone laughs.
—Zach Helfand, New Yorker, 20 Apr. 2026
In one snap, the foursome laughs as Crown Prince Christian pretends to grab his younger brother's neck.
—Janine Henni, PEOPLE, 20 Apr. 2026
Reflecting on this moment, Mering laughs.
—Angie Martoccio, Rolling Stone, 20 Apr. 2026
Hayden, working the grill behind her husband, laughs and shakes her head with a slight eye roll the way only a loving wife can.
—Matthew Odam, Austin American Statesman, 2 Apr. 2026
Henry takes in Link, who at this point is a teenager and laughs him off.
—Maggie Fremont, Vulture, 30 Mar. 2026
Patrick Ryan, USA Today, 8 May 2026
Even Gawker’s star investigative reporter Adrian Chen, whose exposé of the dark web marketplace Silk Road was a huge scoop, could generate laughs.
—Frank Digiacomo, HollywoodReporter, 8 May 2026
Years and years ago, my mom told me the best entertainment is full of laughs, but also makes people cry.
—Angelique Jackson, Variety, 8 May 2026
Attenborough grins, laughs and is speechless with delight.
—ABC News, 8 May 2026
Thank you for the laughs and the memories and for always being there for me no matter what.
—Lance Reynolds, Boston Herald, 8 May 2026
For the third time, Netflix's week-long comedy festival called, Netflix Is a Joke, is bringing the world's best comedians together for laughs — so.
—Colleen Kratofil, PEOPLE, 8 May 2026
That approach may have gone missing in a decade where most of the few studio comedies that got made went for high-concept laughs.
—Jake Coyle, Fortune, 6 May 2026
The night—filled with energy—wrapped back in the VIP lounge, where the band joined for laughs, congrats, and a few serious moments honoring the DTaC efforts.
—Michael Van Runkle, Robb Report, 1 May 2026
Verb
Moving on to more pleasant things [laughs].
—Preezy Brown, VIBE.com, 11 May 2026
Well, perhaps that’s in the messaging of the people hosting the Met Ball [laughs].
—José Criales-Unzueta, Vanity Fair, 6 May 2026
This advertised butt jokes, campy fight montages and sinister Seth Rogen laughs.
—Clare Mulroy, USA Today, 28 Apr. 2026
One can see why wrestling appealed to him—the crowd is everything, the rules mean nothing, and the referees are so feckless that they often get knocked out and everyone laughs.
—Zach Helfand, New Yorker, 20 Apr. 2026
In one snap, the foursome laughs as Crown Prince Christian pretends to grab his younger brother's neck.
—Janine Henni, PEOPLE, 20 Apr. 2026
Reflecting on this moment, Mering laughs.
—Angie Martoccio, Rolling Stone, 20 Apr. 2026
Hayden, working the grill behind her husband, laughs and shakes her head with a slight eye roll the way only a loving wife can.
—Matthew Odam, Austin American Statesman, 2 Apr. 2026
Henry takes in Link, who at this point is a teenager and laughs him off.
—Maggie Fremont, Vulture, 30 Mar. 2026
Noun
There are moments when Lily feels lost and anxious, and another scene where a panicked sheep knocks over furniture, although that is played for laughs.
—Patrick Ryan, USA Today, 8 May 2026
Even Gawker’s star investigative reporter Adrian Chen, whose exposé of the dark web marketplace Silk Road was a huge scoop, could generate laughs.
—Frank Digiacomo, HollywoodReporter, 8 May 2026
Years and years ago, my mom told me the best entertainment is full of laughs, but also makes people cry.
—Angelique Jackson, Variety, 8 May 2026
Attenborough grins, laughs and is speechless with delight.
—ABC News, 8 May 2026
Thank you for the laughs and the memories and for always being there for me no matter what.
—Lance Reynolds, Boston Herald, 8 May 2026
For the third time, Netflix's week-long comedy festival called, Netflix Is a Joke, is bringing the world's best comedians together for laughs — so.
—Colleen Kratofil, PEOPLE, 8 May 2026
That approach may have gone missing in a decade where most of the few studio comedies that got made went for high-concept laughs.
—Jake Coyle, Fortune, 6 May 2026
The night—filled with energy—wrapped back in the VIP lounge, where the band joined for laughs, congrats, and a few serious moments honoring the DTaC efforts.
—Michael Van Runkle, Robb Report, 1 May 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for laughs
Verb
-
Herbert then grabs Beer's face and pulls her in for a kiss as the singer giggles.—
Natasha Dye,
PEOPLE,
7 May 2026
-
The teaser video that followed showed a device straight out of a sci-fi film, something between Wall-E and BB-8, with a camera that giggles and swivels on command.—
Aamir Khollam,
Interesting Engineering,
15 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
Tang smiles from behind the counter.—
Amy Drew Thompson,
The Orlando Sentinel,
6 May 2026
-
Love Story's Paul Anthony Kelly smiles for the camera during a coffee run in SoHo on April 29 in New York City.—
Escher Walcott,
PEOPLE,
3 May 2026
Noun
-
And what begins as a clever, high-concept joke doesn’t always build beyond a steady stream of chuckles.—
Dave Quinn,
PEOPLE,
21 Apr. 2026
-
The line was met with one or two chuckles from the hearing room, which was at capacity.—
Kevin Breuninger,Jeff Cox,Alex Harring,Matt Peterson,
CNBC,
21 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
Wiseman said to hoots from the crowd of media gathered at the site.—
Richard Tribou,
The Orlando Sentinel,
27 Mar. 2026
-
Owl hoots are most effective at striking up turkeys when owls are naturally active, which is around dawn and dusk.—
Natalie Krebs,
Outdoor Life,
11 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
Tom Brady, who was the victim of Netflix’s last celebrity roast in 2024, made a surprise appearance at Kevin Hart’s roast Sunday to launch a few jokes at the comedian before the night got underway.—
Payton Turkeltaub,
Variety,
11 May 2026
-
Insults were par for the course at The Roast of Kevin Hart, but some jokes had more acid than others.—
Jason P. Frank,
Vulture,
11 May 2026
Verb
-
As the recording, which lasts over an hour, continues, Athena’s screams can be heard.—
Jamie Stengle,
Los Angeles Times,
7 May 2026
-
Everything about him screams of a boy who was born to play the game.—
Phil Hay,
New York Times,
6 May 2026
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
Verb
-
Attenborough grins, laughs and is speechless with delight.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
8 May 2026
-
Wells, hidden in a tiny video-village setup inside one of the set’s curtained exam rooms, grins at the monitor and turns around to give Einesman a thumbs-up.—
Kathryn VanArendonk,
Vulture,
17 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Laughs.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/laughs. Accessed 15 May. 2026.
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