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
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2
as in photographing
to take a photograph of
mugging captured criminals for the police records
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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
Verb
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
Noun
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
Verb
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Twenty-three games are too soon to declare anything, but Coleman already has a grimacing reputation to shake.—
Tim Graham,
New York Times,
16 Oct. 2025
-
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
Verb
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Then be sure to check out our guide to photographing meteor showers, along with our roundups of the best cameras and lenses for astrophotography.—
Anthony Wood,
Space.com,
10 Oct. 2025
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At my first visit, I was greeted by a wall of their proprietary products and staff who gave me a skincare assessment, photographing my face from multiple angles to track my progess over the next few months.—
Essence,
Essence,
9 Oct. 2025
Noun
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The 30-year-old pleaded guilty to four counts of first-degree murder and one count of felony burglary.—
Sarah Rumpf-Whitten,
FOXNews.com,
14 Oct. 2025
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On July 2, Kohberger formally entered guilty pleas to four counts of first-degree murder and one count of burglary.—
Charlotte Phillipp,
PEOPLE,
11 Oct. 2025
Verb
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His lashes are long, the eyes deep-set, large and intense, staring piercingly into you.—
Touré,
Rolling Stone,
14 Oct. 2025
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The video shows a woman seated in a window seat staring ahead while listening to the pilot’s announcement on the plane.—
Soo Kim,
MSNBC Newsweek,
13 Oct. 2025
Noun
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Cloud-like insoles, impressive support, and no break-in period.—
Averi Baudler,
PEOPLE,
11 Oct. 2025
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Two men -- Donald Robinson, 28, and Jadon Brown, 19 -- were arrested after being identified within 24 hours of the break-in, according to the sheriff’s office.—
Emily Shapiro,
ABC News,
8 Oct. 2025
Noun
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But the holdup is the fact that, according to NBA insider Jake Fischer, Golden State does not want Malik Monk in return.—
Robert Marvi,
MSNBC Newsweek,
28 Sep. 2025
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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 19 Oct. 2025.
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