1
as in to grin
to express an emotion (as amusement) by curving the lips upward
the soldier smiled in pleasure when he saw the giant sign welcoming him home
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in to laugh
to express scornful amusement by means of facial contortions
smiled at their ridiculous antics and walked away in disgust
Synonyms & Similar Words
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of smile
Chris Lau, CNN Money, 4 Nov. 2025
In 1972, the ever-smiling mother of a family band struggles to keep the family’s TV variety show and wholesome image going when Dad doesn’t turn up to the season finale taping.
—Matt Grobar, Deadline, 4 Nov. 2025
Nik Popli, Time, 5 Nov. 2025
Grime Gran asked again with a smile.
—Gabrielle Rockson, PEOPLE, 5 Nov. 2025
See All Example Sentences for smile
Verb
Among the reactions that survived, one user posted a thumbs up emoji and another left a smiling face.
—Chris Lau, CNN Money, 4 Nov. 2025
In 1972, the ever-smiling mother of a family band struggles to keep the family’s TV variety show and wholesome image going when Dad doesn’t turn up to the season finale taping.
—Matt Grobar, Deadline, 4 Nov. 2025
Noun
That race ended with the elder Cuomo coming in second with 40% of the vote—a number the son invoked in his concession speech with a rueful smile.
—Nik Popli, Time, 5 Nov. 2025
Grime Gran asked again with a smile.
—Gabrielle Rockson, PEOPLE, 5 Nov. 2025
See All Example Sentences for smile
Recent Examples of Synonyms for smile
Verb
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Magician Rob Lake and Kermit the Frog twin and grin at the opening night of Rob Lake Magic with special guests The Muppets!—
Escher Walcott,
PEOPLE,
8 Nov. 2025
-
Minutes before a 10-hour surgical procedure, 8-year-old Olivia Olson sat on a hospital bed grinning.—
David Douglas,
NBC news,
5 Nov. 2025
Verb
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Their enthusiasm for muddy adventures and water play is almost unmatched, often leaving their owners laughing, and, in this case, reaching for the hose.—
Melissa Fleur Afshar,
MSNBC Newsweek,
10 Nov. 2025
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Byrne and Gaonkar stopped by the after-party, shook some hands, laughed, drank rosé from plastic cups.—
Amanda Petrusich,
New Yorker,
10 Nov. 2025
Noun
-
There was no wink, there was no smirk.—
Mike Miller,
Entertainment Weekly,
7 Nov. 2025
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Fixed with a seemingly permanent half-smile — detractors called it a smirk — Cheney joked about his outsize reputation as a stealthy manipulator.—
Calvin Woodward,
Fortune,
4 Nov. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Smile.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/smile. Accessed 15 Nov. 2025.
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