1
as in grinned
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 laughed
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 smiled
In the end, Hannah smiled through her ceremony, and married Brian.
—
CBS News, 11 Jan. 2026
Earlier this season, cornerback Tyrique Stevenson smiled when asked why players had become so enthused with Johnson.
—Dan Wiederer, New York Times, 7 Jan. 2026
Erbert Hough then flashed a strip of sonogram photos at the camera as the couple smiled and swayed together.
—Escher Walcott, PEOPLE, 6 Jan. 2026
When asked about the description, LaRavia smiled.
—Los Angeles Times, 6 Jan. 2026
As for the face touch, when he was raked across the face by New Orleans’ Jordan Poole, on a play ruled a transition take foul, Larsson smiled afterward.
—Ira Winderman, Sun Sentinel, 5 Jan. 2026
The actress smiled for a series of selfies depicting her new honey brown lob.
—Hannah Malach, InStyle, 5 Jan. 2026
Netanyahu smiled and didn’t comment.
—Efrat Lachter, FOXNews.com, 5 Jan. 2026
Gorst smiled shaking Yapp’s hand after the match, but the disappointment on his face was clear while Yapp leapt atop the table to celebrate his major championship.
—Jeremy Herb, CNN Money, 6 Nov. 2025
CBS News, 11 Jan. 2026
Earlier this season, cornerback Tyrique Stevenson smiled when asked why players had become so enthused with Johnson.
—Dan Wiederer, New York Times, 7 Jan. 2026
Erbert Hough then flashed a strip of sonogram photos at the camera as the couple smiled and swayed together.
—Escher Walcott, PEOPLE, 6 Jan. 2026
When asked about the description, LaRavia smiled.
—Los Angeles Times, 6 Jan. 2026
As for the face touch, when he was raked across the face by New Orleans’ Jordan Poole, on a play ruled a transition take foul, Larsson smiled afterward.
—Ira Winderman, Sun Sentinel, 5 Jan. 2026
The actress smiled for a series of selfies depicting her new honey brown lob.
—Hannah Malach, InStyle, 5 Jan. 2026
Netanyahu smiled and didn’t comment.
—Efrat Lachter, FOXNews.com, 5 Jan. 2026
Gorst smiled shaking Yapp’s hand after the match, but the disappointment on his face was clear while Yapp leapt atop the table to celebrate his major championship.
—Jeremy Herb, CNN Money, 6 Nov. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for smiled
Verb
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The pilot, Jonathon Rae, a young Aussie with a dashing mustache, looked down and grinned.—
Susan Casey,
Travel + Leisure,
10 Jan. 2026
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The bare-faced mom grinned while snapping a selfie with her baby in a crib behind her.—
Raven Brunner,
PEOPLE,
1 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
Snoop Dogg called out as the audience laughed.—
Ashley Hume,
FOXNews.com,
13 Jan. 2026
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The camera also cut to a shot of Martin Short clapping while seated next to his fellow Only Murders in the Building actor Steve Martin, who also laughed at the quip.—
Joey Nolfi,
Entertainment Weekly,
12 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Smiled.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/smiled. Accessed 16 Jan. 2026.
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