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
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Recent Examples of mugging
Rebecca White, New York Daily News, 15 Feb. 2026
That was the only way to see countries' delegations backflipping and mean-mugging from places like Cortina and Livigno, sort of alternating with the parade in Milan.
—Pien Huang, NPR, 6 Feb. 2026
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
Along the way, his maestro offers plenty of comic mugging.
—Jim Higgins, jsonline.com, 20 Mar. 2025
Michael Russo, New York Times, 26 Apr. 2026
Anticipating that someone might tip off TMZ about his presence at Disney World, the Republican Florida senator Rick Scott posted a photo of himself mugging for the camera there.
—Paula Mejía, New Yorker, 15 Apr. 2026
Noem seemed to relish cruelty, and treated her job like a costume party, constantly mugging for cameras with guns and faux toughness as if the dismantling of lives and imprisoning even children was a game.
—Los Angeles Times, 5 Apr. 2026
Toddler Adalina India, daughter of second baseman Jonathan India and his wife Daniella, scored a home run in the Cute Kiddie Pics division, mugging like a pro on the field for her mom.
—Lisa Gutierrez
march 31, Kansas City Star, 31 Mar. 2026
Denver’s 33-year-old shooting guard reveled in the moment, mean-mugging his way to the huddle.
—Bennett Durando, Denver Post, 21 Mar. 2026
For most of the show, Bad Bunny had been mugging merrily to the camera, flaring his eyes and making hammy gestures to illustrate his words.
—Spencer Kornhaber, The Atlantic, 9 Feb. 2026
It’s been a strenuous 18-year fall from grace since Susan Sarandon handed the magnificent disaster his Golden Globe, his longtime buddy Bruce Springsteen mugging with glee as a standing ovation crowd cheered him on.
—Steve Garbarino, HollywoodReporter, 22 Jan. 2026
When humpbacks draw near to the boat to investigate the vessel with curiosity, this is called mugging, according to the owner of Gone Whale Watching San Diego.
—Kelli Bender, PEOPLE, 19 Jan. 2026
Noun
An immigrant delivery man bashed unconscious during a botched four-on-one Manhattan mugging died of his injuries months later, cops said Sunday.
—Rebecca White, New York Daily News, 15 Feb. 2026
That was the only way to see countries' delegations backflipping and mean-mugging from places like Cortina and Livigno, sort of alternating with the parade in Milan.
—Pien Huang, NPR, 6 Feb. 2026
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
Along the way, his maestro offers plenty of comic mugging.
—Jim Higgins, jsonline.com, 20 Mar. 2025
Verb
Boldy, who not long before had a goal overturned for kicking the puck in past Oettinger, went to the net alone while Tyler Myers was preoccupied mugging Joel Eriksson Ek out of the corner.
—Michael Russo, New York Times, 26 Apr. 2026
Anticipating that someone might tip off TMZ about his presence at Disney World, the Republican Florida senator Rick Scott posted a photo of himself mugging for the camera there.
—Paula Mejía, New Yorker, 15 Apr. 2026
Noem seemed to relish cruelty, and treated her job like a costume party, constantly mugging for cameras with guns and faux toughness as if the dismantling of lives and imprisoning even children was a game.
—Los Angeles Times, 5 Apr. 2026
Toddler Adalina India, daughter of second baseman Jonathan India and his wife Daniella, scored a home run in the Cute Kiddie Pics division, mugging like a pro on the field for her mom.
—Lisa Gutierrez
march 31, Kansas City Star, 31 Mar. 2026
Denver’s 33-year-old shooting guard reveled in the moment, mean-mugging his way to the huddle.
—Bennett Durando, Denver Post, 21 Mar. 2026
For most of the show, Bad Bunny had been mugging merrily to the camera, flaring his eyes and making hammy gestures to illustrate his words.
—Spencer Kornhaber, The Atlantic, 9 Feb. 2026
It’s been a strenuous 18-year fall from grace since Susan Sarandon handed the magnificent disaster his Golden Globe, his longtime buddy Bruce Springsteen mugging with glee as a standing ovation crowd cheered him on.
—Steve Garbarino, HollywoodReporter, 22 Jan. 2026
When humpbacks draw near to the boat to investigate the vessel with curiosity, this is called mugging, according to the owner of Gone Whale Watching San Diego.
—Kelli Bender, PEOPLE, 19 Jan. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for mugging
Noun
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The driver was identified as 55-year-old Aurora resident Larry Barnes, whom police describe as a prolific car thief with a lengthy and troubling history of arrests, including numerous drug distribution cases, assault on a peace officer, burglary and other offenses.—
Stepheny Price,
FOXNews.com,
6 May 2026
-
Public records reviewed by The Sacramento Bee show Mattson, who previously lived miles from the Arden Park Vista neighborhood, had several run-ins with the law in Southern California, including a 1990 case in which he was accused of burglary.—
Corey Schmidt,
Sacbee.com,
6 May 2026
Verb
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The fifth-year senior also was seen grimacing in pain during the game.—
Danny Davis,
Austin American Statesman,
28 Mar. 2026
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Mark scored 29 for the Longhorns, grimacing and clearly in pain limping on his injured leg through the closing minutes when the sixth-year senior’s team needed him most.—
Janie McCauley,
Chicago Tribune,
27 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Why not read our guide to photographing shooting stars ahead of the Eta Aquarid peak, alongside our roundups of the best cameras and lenses for astrophotography.—
Anthony Wood,
Space.com,
4 May 2026
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Although the drive can be completed in under an hour, many travelers spend extra time photographing the dunes, picnicking, and hiking various trails.—
Taryn White,
Travel + Leisure,
26 Apr. 2026
Noun
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Sixty-three people were referred by the sheriff’s department to the district attorney for potential charges related to that break-in.—
David Fischer,
Fortune,
4 May 2026
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The filing, citing cellphone data, further alleges that the night before the break-in, Isaiah Dukes and Khiell Dukes were in the area of the victim’s home.—
Tess Kenny,
Chicago Tribune,
1 May 2026
Verb
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So, sometimes silence and solitude is necessary, and just like sitting on a plane watching nothing, doing nothing, just staring blankly at … it's called raw-dogging a flight.—
Lauryn Overhultz,
FOXNews.com,
9 May 2026
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According to the criminal complaint in that case, a woman at a coffee shop drive-thru reported seeing a man, later identified as Trepanier, at the back of the building with his pants down and masturbating while staring at her.—
Nick Ferraro,
Twin Cities,
8 May 2026
Noun
-
But there are some potential holdups.—
Alec Lewis,
New York Times,
6 May 2026
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Police have also charged 32-year-old Guardy Roman in connection with two of the holdups reported last fall.—
Justin Muszynski,
Hartford Courant,
1 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Mugging.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/mugging. Accessed 10 May. 2026.
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