LAUGHTER Synonyms: 36 Similar and Opposite Words

laughter

noun

ˈlaf-tər

Definition of laughter

as in chuckle

an explosive sound that is a sign of amusement the nervous producers were reassured by the sounds of laughter coming from the theater

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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 laughter Charlie smiled and seemed to revel in the audience’s laughter. — Brenna Ehrlich, Rolling Stone, 31 July 2026 Billy Ray brought so much joy, light, and laughter to the world as a devoted father, husband, son, and loyal friend. — ABC News, 30 July 2026 Despite being confined to her bed, covered in tubes, tangled in wires, despite being separated by gloves and masks and isolation gowns, our laughter permeated all those barriers. — Anna Tsioulias, STAT, 29 July 2026 More than just the thrill of victory, the docuseries examines the camaraderie and team effort, laughter and moments of tension and the looming challenge during a campaign when many even in Spain saw France as the favorite. — Ed Meza, Variety, 24 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for laughter

Recent Examples of Synonyms for laughter

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
And while most of the film is unrelentingly grim, its few stabs at dark humor — most notably the punchlines about the grandmother’s faulty memory — didn’t garner a chuckle from me.

— Angelica Jade Bastién, Vulture, 10 July 2026

Definition of chuckle

Noun

Meanwhile, donning night-vision giggles, Knoxville gleefully attacks them with trash can lids and tasers.

— Tim Grierson, Vulture, 11 Aug. 2026
At one moment, the young prince glances down with his doe eyes before looking shyly off to the side at his mom and breaking out into a giggle.

— Christina Perrier, InStyle, 5 Aug. 2026

Definition of giggle

Noun

Classic cookies come in 11 flavors like chocolate chip, oatmeal raisin, peanut butter, snicker doodle, white chocolate macadamia nut, fruity pebbles, monster and white chocolate cranberry.

— Ella Gonzales, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 29 July 2026
As is, this is a foolish thriller that prompts the occasional snicker but not much more.

— Randy Myers, Mercury News, 9 July 2026

Definition of snicker

Browse Nearby Words

laughs off

laughter

laughters

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“Laughter.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/laughter. Accessed 12 Aug. 2026.

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Synonyms of laughter

noun

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