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
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
Diesel says to the camera, mugging behind his trademark dark shades.
—Brian Welk, IndieWire, 24 Nov. 2025
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
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
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
Diesel says to the camera, mugging behind his trademark dark shades.
—Brian Welk, IndieWire, 24 Nov. 2025
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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The Los Angeles Police Department is pursuing a driver wanted for burglary on Wednesday morning near the Inglewood area.—
CBS LA Staff,
CBS News,
28 Jan. 2026
-
Police are looking for a burglary suspect who led officers on a chase before getting into a car crash on live TV in Los Angeles on Wednesday morning.—
Summer Lin,
Los Angeles Times,
28 Jan. 2026
Verb
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After grimacing, Daniels popped up and headed to the bench, where he was greeted by multiple athletic trainers and the team doctor.—
Nicki Jhabvala,
New York Times,
8 Dec. 2025
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Nearby, a large man with a wad of cash was grimacing into a digital roulette machine.—
Adam Iscoe,
New Yorker,
24 Nov. 2025
Verb
-
Sara also enjoys photographing sports.—
Aaron E Martinez,
Austin American Statesman,
23 Jan. 2026
-
After the revelation, paparazzi agreed to refrain from photographing the little boy as the constant flashing could trigger a seizure.—
Alex Gurley,
PEOPLE,
21 Jan. 2026
Noun
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Last summer’s political violence — and a subsequent break-in at the Capitol by a nude intruder who guards found sitting in the Senate President’s Chair — increased political pressure to harden security.—
Alex Derosier,
Twin Cities,
26 Jan. 2026
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More recent images showed that the police arrived around noon to investigate the break-in.—
Tianwei Zhang,
Footwear News,
23 Jan. 2026
Verb
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With his team staring at a seven-point halftime deficit and a three-game losing streak in the SEC, Texas basketball coach Sean Miller didn’t mince words about the importance of the second half in Saturday’s 87-67 win Georgia.—
Thomas Jones,
Austin American Statesman,
24 Jan. 2026
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Actor Matt Manuel, who is currently staring in the Off-Broadway production of Spelling Bee, weighed in on the topic of theater etiquette.—
Emma Kershaw,
Forbes.com,
21 Jan. 2026
Noun
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In her opinion, the holdups, delays and claim denials point to the city of Fort Worth trying to save money on treatment costs.—
Matthew Adams,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
16 Jan. 2026
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The holdup, according to those briefed on the talks, was that the Padres were unwilling to take on as much of Arenado’s salary as the D-Backs.—
Ken Rosenthal,
New York Times,
14 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Mugging.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/mugging. Accessed 29 Jan. 2026.
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