laughter

Definition of laughternext
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

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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 The remedy is finding laughter amongst the indignities. Stephen Rodrick, Rolling Stone, 16 June 2026 Like laughter, gratification is involuntary. Ian Bogost, The Atlantic, 16 June 2026 The silly moment prompted a roar of laughter and cheers from the crowd. Christina Perrier, InStyle, 16 June 2026 The memories, artwork, belly laughter, handmade jewelry, oil paintings, sculptures, costumes, and all around joie de vivre live on. Brendan Morrow, USA Today, 15 June 2026 See All Example Sentences for laughter
Recent Examples of Synonyms for laughter
Noun
  • As Ross runs off, on to the next part of the show, commentator John Helm lets out a hearty chuckle.
    Jack Lang, New York Times, 9 June 2026
  • Even Saturday Night Live’s reigning king of smarm, Colin Jost, playing a henpecked husband, got some chuckles out of me.
    David Sims, The Atlantic, 5 June 2026
Noun
  • These days, fear and absurdity walk hand in hand, and anyone who’s scrolled a news feed knows how quickly abject terror can morph into cathartic giggles.
    Ben Travers, IndieWire, 17 June 2026
  • One highlight of this tenure was his descent into a fit of giggles while interviewing Carol Channing.
    Mark Kennedy, Fortune, 15 June 2026
Noun
  • The fallout of that inquiry—to which Joe and Angela gamely acquiesce—generates its share of laughs, though our amusement comes at a cost.
    Justin Chang, New Yorker, 19 June 2026
  • There are definitely laughs in Maddie’s Secret, but the point of the movie is almost to get beyond them, to the place where naive hokum could yield moments of inexplicable resonance.
    Alison Willmore, Vulture, 19 June 2026
Noun
  • The grown-ups in the audience snicker.
    Amy Nicholson, Los Angeles Times, 3 June 2026
  • There were snickers from some of the other students, including a tall and lank-haired kid whose name Adele didn’t know.
    Jonathan Franzen, New Yorker, 1 June 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Laughter.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/laughter. Accessed 24 Jun. 2026.

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