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
David Fear, Rolling Stone, 7 Mar. 2026
Jean Franklin, center, laughs with her sons, Louis (right) and Charlie, and Charlie's girlfriend, Masha Billingsley.
—Christine Mai-Duc, CBS News, 26 Feb. 2026
Son laughs when asked about that decision.
—Charlie Campbell, Time, 24 Feb. 2026
When Samantha asks how to go about fixing that problem, Louge laughs.
—Maggie Fremont, Vulture, 23 Feb. 2026
Lucy laughs and registers that she was just played, again, and Van Patten believes this is the moment that Lucy can finally be free of Stephen.
—Jackie Strause, HollywoodReporter, 18 Feb. 2026
Robbie laughs, despite likely having heard the story before.
—Emily Zemler, Los Angeles Times, 11 Feb. 2026
Charlie laughs, but there is something like embarrassment, or unease, on his middle-aged, mustachioed face.
—Alexander Nazaryan, New Yorker, 10 Feb. 2026
TikTokers around the world are racking up likes and laughs with their impressions of owls.
—Saleen Martin, USA Today, 27 Jan. 2026
Barry Levitt, Time, 4 Mar. 2026
Vinny will bring the laughs, as the TV personality turned stand-up comedian goes on tour and organizes a celebratory roast for his castmates.
—Edward Segarra, USA Today, 4 Mar. 2026
Each character in this vast array has a distinct personality and that’s partly what earns this film some of its biggest laughs.
—Randy Myers, Mercury News, 4 Mar. 2026
Finally, on the 45th pitch of his outing, Suarez struck out Blaze Alexander swinging with a nasty slider, drawing cheers and laughs from his teammates in the dugout.
—Mac Cerullo, Boston Herald, 1 Mar. 2026
Just a delightful take on rogue AIs that manages to bring the laughs, while keeping the menace.
—Fran Ruiz, Space.com, 1 Mar. 2026
Through off-field laughs and on-field competition, the trio grew close.
—Daniel Flick, AJC.com, 28 Feb. 2026
Rather than letting the gags flit by quickly, the cast pauses endlessly after each utterance to milk the laughs.
—Christopher Arnott, Hartford Courant, 27 Feb. 2026
Trump told the men’s team during the call, eliciting laughs in the background.
—Rachel Roberts, Idaho Statesman, 27 Feb. 2026
Verb
Tony Benna, listening on the same Zoom call, laughs at the story.
—David Fear, Rolling Stone, 7 Mar. 2026
Jean Franklin, center, laughs with her sons, Louis (right) and Charlie, and Charlie's girlfriend, Masha Billingsley.
—Christine Mai-Duc, CBS News, 26 Feb. 2026
Son laughs when asked about that decision.
—Charlie Campbell, Time, 24 Feb. 2026
When Samantha asks how to go about fixing that problem, Louge laughs.
—Maggie Fremont, Vulture, 23 Feb. 2026
Lucy laughs and registers that she was just played, again, and Van Patten believes this is the moment that Lucy can finally be free of Stephen.
—Jackie Strause, HollywoodReporter, 18 Feb. 2026
Robbie laughs, despite likely having heard the story before.
—Emily Zemler, Los Angeles Times, 11 Feb. 2026
Charlie laughs, but there is something like embarrassment, or unease, on his middle-aged, mustachioed face.
—Alexander Nazaryan, New Yorker, 10 Feb. 2026
TikTokers around the world are racking up likes and laughs with their impressions of owls.
—Saleen Martin, USA Today, 27 Jan. 2026
Noun
Strangely, Bailey-Brown laughs at the accusation.
—Barry Levitt, Time, 4 Mar. 2026
Vinny will bring the laughs, as the TV personality turned stand-up comedian goes on tour and organizes a celebratory roast for his castmates.
—Edward Segarra, USA Today, 4 Mar. 2026
Each character in this vast array has a distinct personality and that’s partly what earns this film some of its biggest laughs.
—Randy Myers, Mercury News, 4 Mar. 2026
Finally, on the 45th pitch of his outing, Suarez struck out Blaze Alexander swinging with a nasty slider, drawing cheers and laughs from his teammates in the dugout.
—Mac Cerullo, Boston Herald, 1 Mar. 2026
Just a delightful take on rogue AIs that manages to bring the laughs, while keeping the menace.
—Fran Ruiz, Space.com, 1 Mar. 2026
Through off-field laughs and on-field competition, the trio grew close.
—Daniel Flick, AJC.com, 28 Feb. 2026
Rather than letting the gags flit by quickly, the cast pauses endlessly after each utterance to milk the laughs.
—Christopher Arnott, Hartford Courant, 27 Feb. 2026
Trump told the men’s team during the call, eliciting laughs in the background.
—Rachel Roberts, Idaho Statesman, 27 Feb. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for laughs
Verb
-
Her daughter giggles as she's swung throughout the air, until Moore realizes that something isn't quite right.—
Hannah Sacks,
PEOPLE,
9 Jan. 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
-
Kiefer Sherwood #44 of the San Jose Sharks smiles between plays in the first period against the Calgary Flames at SAP Center on February 26, 2026 in San Jose.—
CBS News,
CBS News,
4 Mar. 2026
-
Each position group or side of the ball took turns peeling off from the crowd for a still shot with the Lombardi Trophy and their closest teammates, with cigars in their mouths, goggles on their heads and smiles on their faces.—
Pat Leonard,
New York Daily News,
3 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
His children's reflections were poetic in the style of the late civil rights icon — filled with prayer, tears and a few chuckles, including about disagreements that occur when growing up in a large, lively family.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
18 Feb. 2026
-
His children’s reflections were poetic in the style of the late civil rights icon — filled with prayer, tears and a few chuckles, including about disagreements that occur when growing up in a large, lively family.—
Sophia Tareen,
Los Angeles Times,
18 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
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
-
Cowboy and cowgirl hoots and hollers complement the rumbling of the massive animals’ hooves as they’re rounded up into the corrals.—
Lydia Mansel,
Travel + Leisure,
28 Dec. 2025
Noun
-
Colbert did read out several jokes that have been cut during his time on the show, crediting his writing staff for their quips.—
Emily Zemler,
Rolling Stone,
9 Mar. 2026
-
Over the years, more than 11,000 inscriptions have been found across the city, ranging from political commentary and love declarations to sporting slogans, jokes, and poems.—
Ryan Brennan,
Charlotte Observer,
9 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
In Whale’s picture, the bride doesn’t talk — only screams or hisses like an irritated cat — and is brought to life 5 minutes before the credits roll.—
Leah Dolan,
CNN Money,
6 Mar. 2026
-
The picture with a bald eagle might be photoshopped, but the image screams America, right?—
Pete Grathoff,
Kansas City Star,
6 Mar. 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
-
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
-
Ryan grins down, then kisses him.—
Natalia Winkelman,
IndieWire,
24 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Laughs.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/laughs. Accessed 11 Mar. 2026.
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