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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
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Recent Examples of mugging
Adam Harrington, CBS News, 7 June 2026
There’s a whole plotline about Dzanielle’s desire to get a status dog walker named Yuki, who costs $1,500 a week, and another around a Birkin mugging.
—Elise Taylor, Vanity Fair, 11 May 2026
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
Nick Miller, New York Times, 12 June 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
While investigating this incident, CPD also learned that a shot was fired during a mugging, also in the Lincoln Park neighborhood.
—Adam Harrington, CBS News, 7 June 2026
There’s a whole plotline about Dzanielle’s desire to get a status dog walker named Yuki, who costs $1,500 a week, and another around a Birkin mugging.
—Elise Taylor, Vanity Fair, 11 May 2026
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
These are pictures of everyone competing at the tournament, wearing their nation’s kit, usually posing pretty seriously, but occasionally mugging for the camera.
—Nick Miller, New York Times, 12 June 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
-
Aside from the arson charge, Taraba was also charged with burglary and vandalism.—
Carlos E. Castañeda,
CBS News,
17 June 2026
-
The Waymo vehicle dropped him off near the yoga studio, waited while the burglary happened and then drove him away.—
Kurt Knutsson,
FOXNews.com,
17 June 2026
Verb
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In the first quarter, Brunson exited with an apparent leg injury, frequently grimacing and favoring his right knee.—
Alejandro Avila,
FOXNews.com,
4 June 2026
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But the Hollywood adapters couldn’t be blamed for everything that seemed inherently clunky or, by now, dated about the musical’s book, parts of which were bound to leave a contemporary audience grimacing a little between all the grins the score provokes.—
Chris Willman,
Variety,
27 May 2026
Verb
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Ayaka’s swimming instructor was sentenced to four years in prison after being convicted of secretly photographing multiple child victims.—
Hanako Montgomery,
CNN Money,
22 June 2026
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Fadler also gently advised using discretion when photographing the royals from afar.—
Lisa Gutierrez,
Kansas City Star,
19 June 2026
Noun
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The minivan and sprinter van were said to have arrived and departed together, following the break-in’s completion.—
Rosemary Feitelberg,
Footwear News,
22 June 2026
-
Chicago police on Monday morning were investigating a break-in at a smoke shop in the Portage Park community.—
Dylan Olsen,
CBS News,
22 June 2026
Verb
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Beijing — When US and Israeli bombs first began falling on Iran at the end of February, China’s leaders were staring at the very real possibility of another friendly regime being decapitated, much like had happened with Venezuela only weeks before.—
Simone McCarthy,
CNN Money,
20 June 2026
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Yesterday, Barack Obama stood in the nearly same spot, now as a former president, staring up at a monument in his name.—
Josh Feldman,
NBC news,
19 June 2026
Noun
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Those actively tracking the developments wondered about the holdup.—
Nick Romano,
Entertainment Weekly,
5 June 2026
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Harry Reid International Airport in Las Vegas recorded 112 delays as of the afternoon, with the holdups lasting between 16 and 30 minutes over wind disruptions.—
Antonio Pequeño IV,
Forbes.com,
24 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Mugging.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/mugging. Accessed 24 Jun. 2026.
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