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
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
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This is the second time that Sterling has been the subject of a burglary after his house was broken into while on international duty with England at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar.—
Dan Sheldon,
New York Times,
11 Nov. 2025
-
According to prosecutors, both suspects are facing charges of murder and burglary.—
Liam Quinn,
PEOPLE,
11 Nov. 2025
Verb
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Wentz was noticeably grimacing throughout the majority of the game.—
Chantz Martin,
FOXNews.com,
24 Oct. 2025
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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A lot of these schools are staring at declining enrollments, so money is tight on college campuses.—
Dana Taylor,
USA Today,
11 Nov. 2025
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And then on Thursday, after most of the show had been written, a man collapsed in the Oval Office, generating an instantly meme-able photograph of the president staring into the camera, looking oblivious to efforts to revive the prone victim at stage left.—
Erik Adams,
The Atlantic,
9 Nov. 2025
Noun
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Speaking on the Senate floor, Thune called on colleagues from both parties to avoid procedural holdups and allow the House to act quickly.—
Hannah Parry,
MSNBC Newsweek,
10 Nov. 2025
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Over time, detectives have focused on a robbery crew linked to a string of fast-food holdups that summer.—
Christina Coulter,
PEOPLE,
8 Nov. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Mugging.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/mugging. Accessed 29 Nov. 2025.
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