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
Relevance
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
U T Readers, San Diego Union-Tribune, 29 Aug. 2025
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
Verb
This lawyer-mugging could go without any response today.
—U T Readers, San Diego Union-Tribune, 29 Aug. 2025
Noun
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
Verb
-
Miller could be seen bending over and grimacing after the fateful pitch, in an obvious degree of pain.—
Jon Vankin,
MSNBC Newsweek,
2 Sep. 2025
-
In the new logo, which the university said was designed in-house, the mascot's grimacing expression is the same, but his fists are down.—
Andrew Greif,
NBC news,
21 Aug. 2025
Verb
-
After photographing the Taylors, spending only five minutes on the summit, Ryan descended to the North Ridge trail.—
Ted Katauskas,
Outside,
23 Sep. 2025
-
Emily Moncur, a volunteer at the Orange County Animal Care facility in Tustin, had just finished photographing a large dog and was putting it back in its kennel when the animal turned on her.—
Tony Saavedra,
Oc Register,
16 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
Kelce’s home was broken into last October as part of what police believe was a series of burglaries of high-profile athletes from around the country.—
Caroline Zimmerman,
Kansas City Star,
23 Sep. 2025
-
Between 1976 and 1986, California investigators searched in vain for the suspect behind 12 homicides, 45 rapes, and 120 burglaries, according to the FBI.—
Ian Berry,
CNN Money,
22 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
The cover, photographed by Nico Bustos, was a simple close-up shot of Hayek and Pinault staring confidently into the camera.—
Edward Segarra,
USA Today,
23 Sep. 2025
-
Domínguez then thought for a moment, staring off before correcting himself.—
Mitch Bannon,
New York Times,
22 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
The theft took place at the museum’s Gallery of Geology and Mineralogy early Tuesday, the museum said in a statement, adding that police were notified as soon as security staff members discovered the break-in.—
Peter Guo,
NBC news,
18 Sep. 2025
-
The soft insoles molded to my feet like slippers, and the nubuck leather was perfect out of the box without a long and painful break-in period.—
Alice Bennett,
Travel + Leisure,
11 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
The Warriors have not established a set role for Kuminga throughout his tenure with the team, which has been at the heart of the holdup this offseason.—
Valentina Martinez,
MSNBC Newsweek,
21 Sep. 2025
-
With training camp underway and the regular season opener coming up in less than a month, Kaprizov’s words Thursday might provide fans with hope that holdup is about economics and not environment.—
Jess Myers,
Twin Cities,
19 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Mugging.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/mugging. Accessed 29 Sep. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share