1
as in cups
a round vessel equipped with a handle and designed for drinking
a coffee mug
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
2
as in thugs
a violent, brutal person who is often a member of an organized gang
just a bunch of mugs with no respect for anyone, not even themselves
Synonyms & Similar Words
3
as in faces
the front part of the head
she joked about not having to see his ugly mug anymore
Synonyms & Similar Words
4
5
as in scowls
a twisting of the facial features in disgust or disapproval
an involuntary mug at the revolting sight
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
6
as in suckers
chiefly British
one who is easily deceived or cheated
the cardsharp was always on the lookout for a new mug
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
7
as in idiots
chiefly British
a stupid person
what kind of mug goes out in the rain without his brolly or a mackintosh?
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
1
as in grimaces
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 photographs
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 mugs
Marina Johnson, Louisville Courier Journal, 9 Feb. 2026
All of the tumblers, mugs and cold cups reflect the 1971 theme of Starbucks' founding (available while supplies last).
—Mike Snider, USA Today, 8 Feb. 2026
As a hat tip to its ubiquity, the 2026 festival merch immortalized the theater on t-shirts, sweatshirts, coffee mugs and hats.
—Mia Galuppo, HollywoodReporter, 7 Feb. 2026
Throwing one of her big bowls or mugs, for example, takes anywhere between five and six minutes on the wheel.
—Noelle Alviz-Gransee
february 6, Kansas City Star, 6 Feb. 2026
To say goodbye to Shallot, Le Creuset is discounting pans, baking dishes, mugs, and more in this specific shade, with most items 20 percent off.
—Michele Laufik, Martha Stewart, 5 Feb. 2026
Prep & Savour Claudya Helper Shelf This wire cabinet shelf is a genius way to keep plates, bowls, and mugs neatly stowed and nearly doubles your storage space.
—Clint Davis, PEOPLE, 4 Feb. 2026
And, for many of us, that's the cabinet that houses our reusable water bottles and mugs.
—Melissa Epifano, The Spruce, 26 Jan. 2026
Ceramics and Pottery This includes things such as coffee mugs.
—Chris Baskind, Treehugger, 20 Jan. 2026
Noun
All of the tumblers, mugs and cold cups reflect the 1971 theme of Starbucks' founding (available while supplies last).
—Marina Johnson, Louisville Courier Journal, 9 Feb. 2026
All of the tumblers, mugs and cold cups reflect the 1971 theme of Starbucks' founding (available while supplies last).
—Mike Snider, USA Today, 8 Feb. 2026
As a hat tip to its ubiquity, the 2026 festival merch immortalized the theater on t-shirts, sweatshirts, coffee mugs and hats.
—Mia Galuppo, HollywoodReporter, 7 Feb. 2026
Throwing one of her big bowls or mugs, for example, takes anywhere between five and six minutes on the wheel.
—Noelle Alviz-Gransee
february 6, Kansas City Star, 6 Feb. 2026
To say goodbye to Shallot, Le Creuset is discounting pans, baking dishes, mugs, and more in this specific shade, with most items 20 percent off.
—Michele Laufik, Martha Stewart, 5 Feb. 2026
Prep & Savour Claudya Helper Shelf This wire cabinet shelf is a genius way to keep plates, bowls, and mugs neatly stowed and nearly doubles your storage space.
—Clint Davis, PEOPLE, 4 Feb. 2026
And, for many of us, that's the cabinet that houses our reusable water bottles and mugs.
—Melissa Epifano, The Spruce, 26 Jan. 2026
Ceramics and Pottery This includes things such as coffee mugs.
—Chris Baskind, Treehugger, 20 Jan. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for mugs
Noun
-
Millions of professionals power through their workday with copious cups of coffee—but most aren’t dropping by the office Nespresso machine more often than Nestlé CEO Philipp Navratil.—
Emma Burleigh,
Fortune,
5 Feb. 2026
-
Always look for silver items, including cups, plates, and vases.—
Gabi De la Rosa,
Southern Living,
5 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
The forces involved in this deadly crackdown include the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), its Basij thugs and various divisions of Iran’s security forces.—
Hamid Kashani,
Twin Cities,
5 Feb. 2026
-
When three murderous thugs attempt to reclaim the contraband from Susan, a nightmarish scenario unfolds during the two-hour stage story.—
Philip Potempa,
Chicago Tribune,
5 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
In a tranche of files released in December, Clinton was pictured with Epstein and his accomplice, Ghislane Maxwell, as well as with women whose faces have been redacted.—
Claire Carter,
The Washington Examiner,
7 Feb. 2026
-
The same faces would attend most years and stand in silence for a couple of minutes, in respect for those who lost their lives in 1958, before continuing on their way.—
Andy Mitten,
New York Times,
7 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
Give someone these Santa Maria Novella Melograno Bath Salts, tell them the history, and watch as their mouths gape in surprise.—
Tamim Alnuweiri,
InStyle,
10 Feb. 2026
-
My advice for all people who don’t care for him is to keep their mouths shut until someone has a method to get him out of office.—
Voice of the People,
New York Daily News,
10 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
One of the series’ most creative elements is the variety of scowls Graham deploys while arguing with Hezekiah, Mary, or his younger brother, Treacle (James Nelson-Joyce), a pragmatic family man who represents everything Sugar’s life could have been if he weren’t filled with so much self-loathing.—
Roxana Hadadi,
Vulture,
9 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
To remove the suckers growing at the base of some viburnum species, cut them back at ground level.—
Luke Miller,
Better Homes & Gardens,
7 Feb. 2026
-
For a coach who thinks running the ball is for squares and suckers, that’s not exactly adapting one’s philosophy to fit your personnel.—
Sean Keeler,
Denver Post,
27 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
Franchises are lost because of proud idiots.—
Pete Grathoff,
Kansas City Star,
3 Feb. 2026
-
This happens often enough when one administration succeeds another, to be sure, with the new team insisting that its predecessors were idiots, but the Hegseth Pentagon carries such insults to a new level.—
Eliot A. Cohen,
The Atlantic,
29 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
Owens started the unwrapping process and opens all his gifts, and Biles flimed and photographs his reactions.—
Charna Flam,
PEOPLE,
26 Dec. 2025
-
The images that Buckman photographs — family and community members in bedrooms, on couches, under quilts— become compositions painted and stitched into vintage cloth.—
Olga Garcia-Mayoral,
Miami Herald,
18 Dec. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Mugs.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/mugs. Accessed 14 Feb. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
