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
Izzy Baskette, PEOPLE, 9 Jan. 2026
This includes interactive food, like cozy at-home cafés featuring signature lattes, homemade syrups, stoneware mugs, and soft jazz playlists.
—Colleen Sullivan, Better Homes & Gardens, 7 Jan. 2026
That goes for any holiday-specific or seasonal goods, like hot cocoa mugs that only get used in the wintertime.
—Bridget Reed Morawski, Architectural Digest, 7 Jan. 2026
Those who genuinely embrace winter’s chill with roaring fires and cozy mugs of hot chocolate, and those who flee to the tropics the minute the sun starts setting before 5 pm.
—Annie Daly, Vogue, 3 Jan. 2026
Ludwig also notes that there are a lot of good options on the market for insulated mugs, tumblers, carafes.
—Alana Al-Hatlani, Southern Living, 2 Jan. 2026
Most Christmas markets across Europe serve Glühwein in collectible mugs with the market's logo or shaped like Santa's boot.
—Nicole Werbeck, NPR, 31 Dec. 2025
Unlike some of its competitors, the bulk of Target’s revenue comes from the kinds of products that are nice to have, but not necessary, such as holiday mugs, trendy sweaters and home decor.
—Gabrielle Fonrouge,annie Palmer,frank Holland, CNBC, 4 Nov. 2025
Gift options include houseplants from Mahonia and themed mugs from Darling State of Mind.
—Olivia Evans, Louisville Courier Journal, 3 Nov. 2025
Noun
Your purchase includes dinner plates, salad plates, pasta bowls, cereal bowls, and mugs — enough for six people.
—Izzy Baskette, PEOPLE, 9 Jan. 2026
This includes interactive food, like cozy at-home cafés featuring signature lattes, homemade syrups, stoneware mugs, and soft jazz playlists.
—Colleen Sullivan, Better Homes & Gardens, 7 Jan. 2026
That goes for any holiday-specific or seasonal goods, like hot cocoa mugs that only get used in the wintertime.
—Bridget Reed Morawski, Architectural Digest, 7 Jan. 2026
Those who genuinely embrace winter’s chill with roaring fires and cozy mugs of hot chocolate, and those who flee to the tropics the minute the sun starts setting before 5 pm.
—Annie Daly, Vogue, 3 Jan. 2026
Ludwig also notes that there are a lot of good options on the market for insulated mugs, tumblers, carafes.
—Alana Al-Hatlani, Southern Living, 2 Jan. 2026
Most Christmas markets across Europe serve Glühwein in collectible mugs with the market's logo or shaped like Santa's boot.
—Nicole Werbeck, NPR, 31 Dec. 2025
Unlike some of its competitors, the bulk of Target’s revenue comes from the kinds of products that are nice to have, but not necessary, such as holiday mugs, trendy sweaters and home decor.
—Gabrielle Fonrouge,annie Palmer,frank Holland, CNBC, 4 Nov. 2025
Gift options include houseplants from Mahonia and themed mugs from Darling State of Mind.
—Olivia Evans, Louisville Courier Journal, 3 Nov. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for mugs
Noun
-
Monograms also look beautiful engraved on silverware or printed on ceramic cups and plates.—
Tessa Cooper,
Better Homes & Gardens,
10 Jan. 2026
-
The facility had open cups of employee drinks on a rack inside the food storage room.—
Camila Pedrosa,
Sacbee.com,
9 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
Even the Democrat hacks at Massport understood the insanity of dumping hundreds more of these thugs into one of the few functioning hubs of commercial activity left in New England.—
Howie Carr,
Boston Herald,
28 Nov. 2025
-
Of course, Sarah and her mom continue to believe that God is on their side, even after the family home is attacked by oil company thugs and a reliable ally winds up on the wrong end of a shotgun.—
Joe Leydon,
Variety,
7 Nov. 2025
Noun
-
After the play, Sirianni and Brown were seen on the broadcast getting in each other's faces.—
Tom Ignudo,
CBS News,
12 Jan. 2026
-
Their necks contorted slightly and smiles spread across their faces as the high-definition videos started and their journeys commenced.—
Haven Daley,
Los Angeles Times,
11 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
Baby and Kids' Toys Babies put everything in their mouths, and the dishwasher is a perfect way to keep teething rings and pacifiers clean.—
Mary Marlowe Leverette,
The Spruce,
9 Jan. 2026
-
Some of the jurors craned their necks to see the photos, while others covered their mouths or lifted tissues to wipe their eyes.—
Peter Charalambous,
ABC News,
9 Jan. 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
-
Additionally, prune any dead branches, thorny suckers, and any branches that may be touching the ground.—
SJ McShane,
Martha Stewart,
2 Jan. 2026
-
Begin by removing any suckers at the base of the tree, side shoots on the trunk, crossing or crooked branches, dead or damaged branches, those that are growing inward, and crowded branches.—
Karen Brewer Grossman,
Southern Living,
31 Dec. 2025
Noun
-
Traitors is about the gullible and the skeptical working together to sieve the fraudulent from the truthful, an amalgamated nightmare of village idiots locking themselves in the stocks and pelting each other with rotten fruit.—
Raven Smith,
Vogue,
9 Jan. 2026
-
And speaking of the idiots who run college football, the sport had one-fourth of its playoff coaches accepting other jobs before the playoffs even began, and has the transfer portal opening before the playoffs even come to an end.—
Mike Bianchi,
The Orlando Sentinel,
8 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 15 Jan. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
