1
as in grins
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
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in laughs
to express scornful amusement by means of facial contortions
smiled at their ridiculous antics and walked away in disgust
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 smiles
Zoey Lyttle, PEOPLE, 27 Jan. 2026
The cheerful doorman smiles warmly and helps you with your things.
—Forbes Travel Guide, Forbes.com, 26 Jan. 2026
The young biker leans back and smiles at Gately and gives an affable shrug and blatts away, a halter top’s tits mashed against his back.
—Hermione Hoby, New Yorker, 26 Jan. 2026
Because Andy’s playing the kind of nemesis that smiles at you and puts his hand on you, almost politician-like.
—Jackie Strause, HollywoodReporter, 18 Jan. 2026
Struber smiles and shakes his head.
—Stuart James, New York Times, 16 Jan. 2026
Crew 11 commander Zena Cardman, in obvious good spirits, smiles as she's helped from the Crew Dragon capsule.
—William Harwood, CBS News, 15 Jan. 2026
Humans tend to synchronize with each other, which means that when someone smiles at you, you’ll be inclined to smile back.
—Angela Haupt, Time, 9 Jan. 2026
Nick the bartender won’t serve flaming rum punches, apparently a staple in heaven, and nobody smiles anymore.
—Margaret Heidenry, Vanity Fair, 24 Dec. 2025
Verb
Throughout the compilation of clips, Kristy smiles and smolders in the mirror while using a bottle of the luxury brand's Libre Berry Crush perfume.
—Zoey Lyttle, PEOPLE, 27 Jan. 2026
The cheerful doorman smiles warmly and helps you with your things.
—Forbes Travel Guide, Forbes.com, 26 Jan. 2026
The young biker leans back and smiles at Gately and gives an affable shrug and blatts away, a halter top’s tits mashed against his back.
—Hermione Hoby, New Yorker, 26 Jan. 2026
Because Andy’s playing the kind of nemesis that smiles at you and puts his hand on you, almost politician-like.
—Jackie Strause, HollywoodReporter, 18 Jan. 2026
Struber smiles and shakes his head.
—Stuart James, New York Times, 16 Jan. 2026
Crew 11 commander Zena Cardman, in obvious good spirits, smiles as she's helped from the Crew Dragon capsule.
—William Harwood, CBS News, 15 Jan. 2026
Humans tend to synchronize with each other, which means that when someone smiles at you, you’ll be inclined to smile back.
—Angela Haupt, Time, 9 Jan. 2026
Nick the bartender won’t serve flaming rum punches, apparently a staple in heaven, and nobody smiles anymore.
—Margaret Heidenry, Vanity Fair, 24 Dec. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for smiles
Verb
-
Ryan grins down, then kisses him.—
Natalia Winkelman,
IndieWire,
24 Jan. 2026
-
This was an emotional and physical meat grinder of a contest, though the first-year Hornets mentor was all grins afterward.—
Joe Davidson,
Sacbee.com,
18 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
Nahmias turned 33 on January 7; and while many other Millennials—the generation of the overwhelmed and overstimulated—would show frustration with the noise, Nahmias laughs it off.—
José Criales-Unzueta,
Vanity Fair,
20 Jan. 2026
-
At 25 years old, Gerard laughs about becoming one of the veterans on Team USA and in the broader snowboarding community.—
Sean Neumann,
PEOPLE,
14 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
Those surrounding the bride stood up and began clapping, their frowns shifting to wide smiles.—
Rachel Raposas,
PEOPLE,
5 Nov. 2025
-
If only humans kept their expressions to cartoonishly clear frowns and smiles.—
Matt Fuchs,
Time,
4 Nov. 2025
Noun
-
Ask anyone in Teahupo’o about that thing, and expect grimaces and shaking heads.—
Megan Spurrell,
Condé Nast Traveler,
23 July 2024
Cite this Entry
“Smiles.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/smiles. Accessed 3 Feb. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
