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
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
Michael Schneider, Variety, 15 June 2026
Sign up for a short class that excites you, or map a weekend day trip with a friend who laughs easily.
—Tarot.com, The Orlando Sentinel, 13 June 2026
The scene of the two boys discussing Kayda is kind of funny, especially the number of times Zach laughs and encourages Bryce to go for it.
—Ben Rosenstock, Vulture, 12 June 2026
There was sort of like a meta aspect to it [laughs].
—Simon Bland, IndieWire, 12 June 2026
Amy Adams laughs onstage during her appearance on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon in New York City on June 8.
—Brendan Le, PEOPLE, 11 June 2026
Barbershop Greg Patterson laughs with his client at his shop in Jackson, on Saturday, June 6, 2026.
—Riley Bunch, AJC.com, 11 June 2026
My musical theater peers would have been very hard on me [laughs].
—Destiny Jackson, Deadline, 30 May 2026
Vitaliy laughs when asked about Russian President Vladimir Putin posters.
—Efrat Lachter, FOXNews.com, 26 May 2026
Jim Hemphill, IndieWire, 12 June 2026
The tech is terrifying, but it’s treated matter-of-factly, played for barked laughs.
—Sheldon Pearce, New Yorker, 12 June 2026
Both O’Flynn and Rhys have had spotlight episodes so far this season, but will Emmys voters see the pathos and creativity behind the laughs and frights?
—William Earl, Variety, 11 June 2026
One man is menacing, the other faintly absurd, but Rhys embraces the challenges of each role with aplomb — in particular, his physical comedy in the latter has gotten several big laughs out of me.
—Matt Brennan
editor, Los Angeles Times, 10 June 2026
Thank you for the laughs, the wisdom, and the memories.
—Kendrick Calfee, Kansas City Star, 10 June 2026
Farmer Brett and Quinn Farmer Brett of Savannah, Tennessee has fallen for Quinn from Buhl, Idaho and much like how their relationship blossomed on the show, the pair are taking things slow and steady, and with a lot of laughs.
—Rebecca Angel Baer, Southern Living, 10 June 2026
Fieri exclaims as Jesser laughs.
—Chiara Kim, PEOPLE, 9 June 2026
For Marlon Wayans, comedy isn’t simply about the laughs.
—Datwon Thomas, VIBE.com, 6 June 2026
Verb
But give me a beautiful suit and an audience that laughs at my jokes.
—Michael Schneider, Variety, 15 June 2026
Sign up for a short class that excites you, or map a weekend day trip with a friend who laughs easily.
—Tarot.com, The Orlando Sentinel, 13 June 2026
The scene of the two boys discussing Kayda is kind of funny, especially the number of times Zach laughs and encourages Bryce to go for it.
—Ben Rosenstock, Vulture, 12 June 2026
There was sort of like a meta aspect to it [laughs].
—Simon Bland, IndieWire, 12 June 2026
Amy Adams laughs onstage during her appearance on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon in New York City on June 8.
—Brendan Le, PEOPLE, 11 June 2026
Barbershop Greg Patterson laughs with his client at his shop in Jackson, on Saturday, June 6, 2026.
—Riley Bunch, AJC.com, 11 June 2026
My musical theater peers would have been very hard on me [laughs].
—Destiny Jackson, Deadline, 30 May 2026
Vitaliy laughs when asked about Russian President Vladimir Putin posters.
—Efrat Lachter, FOXNews.com, 26 May 2026
Noun
Often, the laughs on the show are generated by a delicate interplay between the music and the sound design.
—Jim Hemphill, IndieWire, 12 June 2026
The tech is terrifying, but it’s treated matter-of-factly, played for barked laughs.
—Sheldon Pearce, New Yorker, 12 June 2026
Both O’Flynn and Rhys have had spotlight episodes so far this season, but will Emmys voters see the pathos and creativity behind the laughs and frights?
—William Earl, Variety, 11 June 2026
One man is menacing, the other faintly absurd, but Rhys embraces the challenges of each role with aplomb — in particular, his physical comedy in the latter has gotten several big laughs out of me.
—Matt Brennan
editor, Los Angeles Times, 10 June 2026
Thank you for the laughs, the wisdom, and the memories.
—Kendrick Calfee, Kansas City Star, 10 June 2026
Farmer Brett and Quinn Farmer Brett of Savannah, Tennessee has fallen for Quinn from Buhl, Idaho and much like how their relationship blossomed on the show, the pair are taking things slow and steady, and with a lot of laughs.
—Rebecca Angel Baer, Southern Living, 10 June 2026
Fieri exclaims as Jesser laughs.
—Chiara Kim, PEOPLE, 9 June 2026
For Marlon Wayans, comedy isn’t simply about the laughs.
—Datwon Thomas, VIBE.com, 6 June 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
-
İmamoğlu appears at the end and smiles silently.—
Kaya Genç,
The Dial,
9 June 2026
-
Maddy smiles when that happens.—
Rafaela Bassili,
Vulture,
1 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
-
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
-
The Blackhawks dressing room was a rowdy scene after the game, their hoots and hollers reverberating throughout the bowels of the United Center.—
Mark Lazerus,
New York Times,
3 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
The day shift also starts making factory-work jokes, with Rekha playing a perky do-bee who just wants to make the boss happy, and Lily adopting an agitator role, demanding workman’s comp and trying to spark revolt.—
Tasha Robinson,
Vulture,
16 June 2026
-
Even comedian Shane Gillis, who's been in hot water for his own distasteful jokes, wasn't a fan of Hokit's words.—
Leigh Blickley,
Entertainment Weekly,
15 June 2026
Verb
-
Something that screams self-care at home would also be appreciated, like 54 Thrones Auntie’s Know Best Holiday Bundle that includes a Butter Cream Body Wash, Barrier Repair Cloud Cream and African Beauty Butter.—
Samantha Mims,
Essence,
10 Dec. 2025
-
The data screams what employees already whisper to one another in hallways and private chats.—
Jon Rosemberg,
Fortune,
9 Dec. 2025
Verb
-
Osama bin Laden’s face sneers from a portrait on the wall.—
Vinson Cunningham,
New Yorker,
18 Jan. 2026
-
Meanwhile her old-school Communist grandmother sneers at the tactics her Red Diaper daughter employed.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
6 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
Fatima grins, before rejoining the rest of the girls' team for one-on-one drills.—
Jasmine Garsd,
NPR,
16 June 2026
-
The suspect in a stabbing in Edinburgh, Scotland, grins out a window before his arrest, March 2, 2026.—
Lindsay Quella,
CBS News,
2 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Laughs.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/laughs. Accessed 17 Jun. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
