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
Destiny Jackson, Deadline, 30 May 2026
Now, the couple mostly laughs about the moment, even though Crawford admits the memory will probably stick with them forever.
—Ashley Vega, PEOPLE, 28 May 2026
Vitaliy laughs when asked about Russian President Vladimir Putin posters.
—Efrat Lachter, FOXNews.com, 26 May 2026
Fernandinho laughs when asked about having to keep team-mates motivated when they were left out of the team.
—Sam Lee, New York Times, 25 May 2026
Jackson laughs with Kirkwood over the chance meeting, calls in the other referees for a group picture.
—Dave Hyde, Sun Sentinel, 16 May 2026
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
Lauren Michele Jackson, New Yorker, 7 June 2026
For Marlon Wayans, comedy isn’t simply about the laughs.
—Datwon Thomas, VIBE.com, 6 June 2026
The Breadwinner is aiming to recapture the satisfaction of going to see a three-out-of-five-star movie, offering decent laughs in an inoffensive package.
—David Sims, The Atlantic, 5 June 2026
Scary Movie 6, has some laughs.
—Britina Cheng, Vulture, 5 June 2026
Well it’s expected to make some big box office bucks this weekend, but sadly this reboot, simply called once again Scary Movie, is surprisingly devoid of many laughs.
—Pete Hammond, Deadline, 4 June 2026
But the actors are reduced to joke machines trapped in a nonsensical nonplot, and while some of those gags yield laughs, a far greater number fall flat.
—David Rooney, HollywoodReporter, 4 June 2026
Even if your to-do list is a mile long, remember to leave room for conversation, life updates and laughs.
—ABC News, 3 June 2026
Sasmita laughs wrapped in the yellow like the sun sarong.
—Literary Hub, 29 May 2026
Verb
My musical theater peers would have been very hard on me [laughs].
—Destiny Jackson, Deadline, 30 May 2026
Now, the couple mostly laughs about the moment, even though Crawford admits the memory will probably stick with them forever.
—Ashley Vega, PEOPLE, 28 May 2026
Vitaliy laughs when asked about Russian President Vladimir Putin posters.
—Efrat Lachter, FOXNews.com, 26 May 2026
Fernandinho laughs when asked about having to keep team-mates motivated when they were left out of the team.
—Sam Lee, New York Times, 25 May 2026
Jackson laughs with Kirkwood over the chance meeting, calls in the other referees for a group picture.
—Dave Hyde, Sun Sentinel, 16 May 2026
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
Noun
There are some laughs that are pretty regular, consistent.
—Lauren Michele Jackson, New Yorker, 7 June 2026
For Marlon Wayans, comedy isn’t simply about the laughs.
—Datwon Thomas, VIBE.com, 6 June 2026
The Breadwinner is aiming to recapture the satisfaction of going to see a three-out-of-five-star movie, offering decent laughs in an inoffensive package.
—David Sims, The Atlantic, 5 June 2026
Scary Movie 6, has some laughs.
—Britina Cheng, Vulture, 5 June 2026
Well it’s expected to make some big box office bucks this weekend, but sadly this reboot, simply called once again Scary Movie, is surprisingly devoid of many laughs.
—Pete Hammond, Deadline, 4 June 2026
But the actors are reduced to joke machines trapped in a nonsensical nonplot, and while some of those gags yield laughs, a far greater number fall flat.
—David Rooney, HollywoodReporter, 4 June 2026
Even if your to-do list is a mile long, remember to leave room for conversation, life updates and laughs.
—ABC News, 3 June 2026
Sasmita laughs wrapped in the yellow like the sun sarong.
—Literary Hub, 29 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
-
Those smiles on their children will never be seen again by their parents and brother, Panish said.—
City News Service,
Daily News,
3 June 2026
-
The responder smiles proudly before throwing his hands into the air.—
Raven Brunner,
PEOPLE,
2 June 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
-
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
-
Wiseman said to hoots from the crowd of media gathered at the site.—
Richard Tribou,
The Orlando Sentinel,
27 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
Often the jokes are tied to an upcoming holiday or event.—
Arati Menon,
Condé Nast Traveler,
7 June 2026
-
The Tribeca Film Festival has publicly condemned jokes made on the red carpet at the premiere of The Wedding Entertainer (The Tale of Moishe Badhan).—
Bethy Squires,
Vulture,
7 June 2026
Verb
-
The eyelet design that covers the bodice and skirt of the garment screams summer, while the tie shoulders add extra visual interest.—
Izzy Baskette,
PEOPLE,
28 May 2026
-
Most of Lucy Boynton’s beauty references the 1960s, and this doll-like bob screams modern mod.—
Calin Van Paris,
InStyle,
27 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
-
Paul Anthony Kelly grins from ear to ear on a sunny day in New York City on May 26.—
People Staff,
PEOPLE,
30 May 2026
-
Attenborough grins, laughs and is speechless with delight.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
8 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Laughs.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/laughs. Accessed 10 Jun. 2026.
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