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
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
Diesel says to the camera, mugging behind his trademark dark shades.
—Brian Welk, IndieWire, 24 Nov. 2025
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
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
Diesel says to the camera, mugging behind his trademark dark shades.
—Brian Welk, IndieWire, 24 Nov. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for mugging
Noun
-
Los Angeles police are investigating a home burglary that happened in Valley Glen late Wednesday night, just hours after another San Fernando Valley home was also targeted.—
Dean Fioresi,
CBS News,
16 Apr. 2026
-
Court records back up her account, and Gaff was convicted of assault with a deadly weapon and burglary in the case.—
Amanda Lee Myers,
USA Today,
15 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
The fifth-year senior also was seen grimacing in pain during the game.—
Danny Davis,
Austin American Statesman,
28 Mar. 2026
-
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
-
With no great whites to document, Fallows has shifted his focus to photographing humpback whales.—
Michael H Gavshon,
CBS News,
12 Apr. 2026
-
During their flight, the crew members were tasked with identifying multiple geographic features, photographing the lunar surface and recording their findings for scientists back on Earth.—
Josh Dinner,
Space.com,
8 Apr. 2026
Noun
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While Nichols remained in custody for the break-in, he was booked on an additional count of annoying or molesting a child under 18, police said.—
Cierra Morgan
Connect
April 13,
Los Angeles Times,
13 Apr. 2026
-
There’s no sign of a break-in at the Klines’ house.—
Sandra Dallas,
Denver Post,
12 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Up on their hind legs, sitting around me, staring at me.—
Sabienna Bowman,
PEOPLE,
10 Apr. 2026
-
After staring at the dog for 90 seconds, Green went back into his apartment and then threw a cutting board at the dog.—
Tim Fang,
CBS News,
8 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
The holdup reportedly took about an hour.—
Kory Grow,
Rolling Stone,
9 Apr. 2026
-
Berlin police worked with local and federal law enforcement to investigate the holdup and carried out search warrants later in the day, searching a residence on Route 5 in North Haven and a vehicle suspected to be involved.—
Justin Muszynski,
Hartford Courant,
3 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Mugging.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/mugging. Accessed 20 Apr. 2026.
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