1
as in grimacing
to distort one's face
every time their picture was snapped, both children mugged by sticking out their tongues or scrunching up their faces
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in photographing
to take a photograph of
mugging captured criminals for the police records
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 mugging
Jesse Whittock, Deadline, 9 Oct. 2025
The mugging of his early selfies has vanished.
—David Kamp, New Yorker, 4 Oct. 2025
This lawyer-mugging could go without any response today.
—U T Readers, San Diego Union-Tribune, 29 Aug. 2025
Rodney Carmichael, NPR, 1 Oct. 2025
No amount of mugging before the cameras in Tianjin could mask the comedown this represents.
—Bobby Ghosh, Time, 2 Sep. 2025
Smith also appeared in several of the duo’s music videos, which teased his future SNL face-mugging persona.
—Devon Ivie, Vulture, 27 Aug. 2025
Curtis, who worked for years to get a sequel green-lit, is clearly having the time of her life, mugging for the camera as inner-fashionista Lily, sporting a speech-inhibiting lip plumper, and taking a joy ride in a Camaro.
—Maureen Lee Lenker Published, EW.com, 5 Aug. 2025
Noun
Staged to look like a random mugging of a courier, the robbery was, in fact, a sophisticated heist that would ultimately involve the Provisional IRA, the New York mafia and the Colombian cartel.
—Jesse Whittock, Deadline, 9 Oct. 2025
The mugging of his early selfies has vanished.
—David Kamp, New Yorker, 4 Oct. 2025
This lawyer-mugging could go without any response today.
—U T Readers, San Diego Union-Tribune, 29 Aug. 2025
Verb
Has Trump seen the album cover of To Pimp A Butterfly with Kendrick Lamar and his shirtless homies mean mugging on the White House lawn while a dead judge lies at their feet?
—Rodney Carmichael, NPR, 1 Oct. 2025
No amount of mugging before the cameras in Tianjin could mask the comedown this represents.
—Bobby Ghosh, Time, 2 Sep. 2025
Smith also appeared in several of the duo’s music videos, which teased his future SNL face-mugging persona.
—Devon Ivie, Vulture, 27 Aug. 2025
Curtis, who worked for years to get a sequel green-lit, is clearly having the time of her life, mugging for the camera as inner-fashionista Lily, sporting a speech-inhibiting lip plumper, and taking a joy ride in a Camaro.
—Maureen Lee Lenker Published, EW.com, 5 Aug. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for mugging
Noun
-
Authorities said police responded to reports of a burglary early morning, when security staff alerted officers of the troubling incident.—
Bonny Chu,
FOXNews.com,
7 Jan. 2026
-
The Johnson County Sheriff’s Office is investigating the burglary.—
Noelle Alviz-Gransee,
Kansas City Star,
6 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
Wentz was noticeably grimacing throughout the majority of the game.—
Chantz Martin,
FOXNews.com,
24 Oct. 2025
-
After taking a fastball on the knee in the fifth game of the series, outfield veteran George Springer returned to the starting lineup on Sunday and was noticeably limping and grimacing during his at-bats.—
Peter Chawaga,
MSNBC Newsweek,
20 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
Stargazers interested in creating a lasting view of the transient visitors to Earth's sky should check out our guide to observing and photographing comets, along with our roundups of the best cameras and lenses for astrophotography in 2025.—
Anthony Wood,
Space.com,
31 Oct. 2025
-
The lens covers a similar angle of view to a full-frame system with a 100-400mm zoom, a range that's ideal for photographing wildlife, field sports, and other far-off subjects.—
PC Magazine,
PC Magazine,
16 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
The Hoka Kawana 2 proved best for training thanks to its cloud-like insoles, strong support, and zero break-in period.—
Toni Sutton,
PEOPLE,
9 Nov. 2025
-
The charge the adult break-in suspect faces, breaking and entering, is a felony punishable by up to 10 years in prison.—
Darcie Moran,
Freep.com,
7 Nov. 2025
Verb
-
Below-average play is often staring you right in the face while catastrophe lurks around the corner.—
Matt Schneidman,
New York Times,
7 Jan. 2026
-
The face in question, below, involves Sherman staring with her mouth agape.—
Lauren Huff,
Entertainment Weekly,
6 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
He was charged in 2002 with being the getaway driver for two gunmen who killed a Brinks armored car driver, Dena Monique Daniels, during a holdup that year in Berkeley.—
Nate Gartrell,
Mercury News,
6 Jan. 2026
-
The Panama Canal’s administrator, Ricaurte Vásquez Morales, said the holdup over the Panama ports deal led the ACP to explore the terminal proposals.—
Glenn Taylor,
Sourcing Journal,
17 Dec. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Mugging.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/mugging. Accessed 8 Jan. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share