mug 1 of 2

Definition of mugnext
1
as in cup
a round vessel equipped with a handle and designed for drinking a coffee mug

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2
3
as in face
the front part of the head she joked about not having to see his ugly mug anymore

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4
as in mouth
the opening through which food passes into the body of an animal keep your mug shut and listen up

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5
as in scowl
a twisting of the facial features in disgust or disapproval an involuntary mug at the revolting sight

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mug

2 of 2

verb

1
as in to grimace
to distort one's face every time their picture was snapped, both children mugged by sticking out their tongues or scrunching up their faces

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2
as in to photograph
to take a photograph of mugging captured criminals for the police records

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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 mug
Noun
For the 2024 campaign, Oldenburg festival staffers restaged iconic celebrity mug shots in a campaign that managed to be simultaneously irreverent, politically resonant and deeply film-nerdy. Scott Roxborough, HollywoodReporter, 12 May 2026 Yet over nearly two hours and three steaming mugs of tea, the spoiler-averse director is unexpectedly forthcoming. Eliana Dockterman, Time, 12 May 2026 Avoid using plastic coffee cups and swap with glass, stainless steel or ceramic mugs. Ryan Brennan may 11, Miami Herald, 11 May 2026 Collins then replaced a photo of the sign with a mug shot of an undocumented trucker named Akhror Bozorov. Max Blau, ProPublica, 11 May 2026 See All Example Sentences for mug
Recent Examples of Synonyms for mug
Noun
  • Recipe information Whisk ⅓ cup white miso and 1 cup water in a medium pot until miso is dissolved.
    Rebecca Firkser, Bon Appetit Magazine, 14 May 2026
  • The dining room table, where the sisters wrote, is strewn with manuscripts, quill pens and tea cups; a bonnet and shawl bedeck a chair in the small kitchen.
    Culture Critic, Los Angeles Times, 14 May 2026
Noun
  • The masked thugs deposit a tearful middle-aged woman in front of Bass, Newsom, and Harris.
    Conor Friedersdorf, The Atlantic, 12 May 2026
  • White thugs destroyed it in the 1921 Race Massacre.
    Jasmine Desiree, Los Angeles Times, 12 May 2026
Noun
  • White also announced that Paddy Pimblett will return to face Benoit Saint-Denis, and hyped heavyweight prospect Gable Steveson will make his UFC debut against Elisha Ellison.
    Mark Puleo, New York Times, 17 May 2026
  • The neurologist checked the right side of his face; the better neurologist checked the left.
    Weike Wang, New Yorker, 17 May 2026
Noun
  • This is far from the first time Crow-Armstrong has courted controversy by running his mouth.
    Alejandro Avila OutKick, FOXNews.com, 18 May 2026
  • Diving instructor Gianluca Benedetti’s body was found at the mouth of the cave, leading authorities to believe the other four remain inside, Shareef said.
    Laura Sharman, CNN Money, 17 May 2026
Noun
  • So just sit and smile, a departure from a career built on scowl.
    Ira Winderman, Sun Sentinel, 8 May 2026
  • This means a scowl is relatively likely to be an expression of anger.
    Ellen Cushing, The Atlantic, 3 May 2026
Noun
  • Democratic states have typically done this, but now that’s a sucker’s game.
    Steven Greenhut, Oc Register, 15 May 2026
  • That makes students who play by the rules feel like suckers.
    Rose Horowitch, The Atlantic, 12 May 2026
Verb
  • The Avs’ star defender quickly grimaced, dropped his stick and appeared to grab his right shoulder in agony.
    Sean Keeler, Denver Post, 14 May 2026
  • Anthony appeared to tweak his hand after checking his swing during his first-inning at bat, grimacing and flexing his hand after pulling up three quarters of the way through his follow through.
    Mac Cerullo, Boston Herald, 4 May 2026
Verb
  • In another image, Brown was photographed floating underwater in a pool, her dark hair drifting across the bright blue water as sunlight reflected across the surface.
    Danielle Minnetian, FOXNews.com, 18 May 2026
  • In my opinion, the look remains one of the most iconic royal fashion appearances ever photographed.
    Alex Badia, Footwear News, 18 May 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Mug.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/mug. Accessed 21 May. 2026.

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