as in laughing
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1
as in grinning
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
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in sneering
to express scornful amusement by means of facial contortions
smiled at their ridiculous antics and walked away in disgust
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of smiling
Luca Evans, Denver Post, 24 Oct. 2025
Raechal Shewfelt, Entertainment Weekly, 31 Oct. 2025
Umanmielen responded with a GIF of a smiling, but famously blind, Stevie Wonder.
—Alex Zietlow, Charlotte Observer, 25 Sep. 2025
Peter Larsen, Daily News, 28 Mar. 2026
Dolores Huerta is smiling in the photo, wearing a trim teal-blue suit, her hair still black at 82, as President Obama places the 2012 Presidential Medal of Freedom around her neck.
—Jenisha Watts, The Atlantic, 26 Mar. 2026
His parents didn’t like posing and not smiling, and both passed away soon after the project concluded.
—Vanity Fair, 26 Mar. 2026
Somewhere, Harry Beck is smiling.
—Christopher Bonanos, Curbed, 25 Mar. 2026
Cohen posted smiling pictures of himself from the cargo bay of the military plane.
—Avi Asher-Schapiro, ProPublica, 24 Mar. 2026
LeBron James rewrites another narrative After 23 years of hearing every compliment and every criticism imaginable, James is still smiling through it all.
—Los Angeles Times, 24 Mar. 2026
Several fans showed up with shirts featuring the image of a smiling Diggins.
—ABC News, 22 Mar. 2026
On Wednesday night, Aliyu was smiling ear to ear when Mamdani got up to speak at the New York Taxi Workers Alliance, recalling that night.
—Katherine Koretski, CNN Money, 20 Mar. 2026
Adjective
As Thomas’ parents, Katina Smith and Bobby Thomas, unveiled their son’s smiling statue in the Broncos’ Ring of Fame Plaza last Sunday, as scores of his former teammates looked on in sadness and joy, Miller was 800 miles away in Dallas, gearing up for a game against the Cowboys.
—Luca Evans, Denver Post, 24 Oct. 2025
Noun
There was a lot of nervous smiling.
—Raechal Shewfelt, Entertainment Weekly, 31 Oct. 2025
Umanmielen responded with a GIF of a smiling, but famously blind, Stevie Wonder.
—Alex Zietlow, Charlotte Observer, 25 Sep. 2025
Verb
Looking around, there’s nothing but smiling faces of fans who never expected to have this experience.
—Peter Larsen, Daily News, 28 Mar. 2026
Dolores Huerta is smiling in the photo, wearing a trim teal-blue suit, her hair still black at 82, as President Obama places the 2012 Presidential Medal of Freedom around her neck.
—Jenisha Watts, The Atlantic, 26 Mar. 2026
His parents didn’t like posing and not smiling, and both passed away soon after the project concluded.
—Vanity Fair, 26 Mar. 2026
Somewhere, Harry Beck is smiling.
—Christopher Bonanos, Curbed, 25 Mar. 2026
Cohen posted smiling pictures of himself from the cargo bay of the military plane.
—Avi Asher-Schapiro, ProPublica, 24 Mar. 2026
LeBron James rewrites another narrative After 23 years of hearing every compliment and every criticism imaginable, James is still smiling through it all.
—Los Angeles Times, 24 Mar. 2026
Several fans showed up with shirts featuring the image of a smiling Diggins.
—ABC News, 22 Mar. 2026
On Wednesday night, Aliyu was smiling ear to ear when Mamdani got up to speak at the New York Taxi Workers Alliance, recalling that night.
—Katherine Koretski, CNN Money, 20 Mar. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for smiling
Noun
-
There was none of the usual laughing and joking.—
Mario Cortegana,
New York Times,
20 Mar. 2026
-
The laughing becomes infectious.—
Omar L. Gallaga,
Los Angeles Times,
8 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
After spotting the grinning giant in Texas, Ralph Potter paid $1,600 to have the statue shipped in four pieces to the 16th Street shop.—
Heather Bushman,
IndyStar,
25 Mar. 2026
-
The footage also showed a man on the ground in handcuffs who appeared to be grinning, the outlet reported.—
Stephen Sorace,
FOXNews.com,
19 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
But British reviewers were not so amused – and several were not afraid to find fault with the UK version of the long-running US show.—
Chas Newkey-Burden,
TheWeek,
23 Mar. 2026
-
Shawkat, with her warm, amused eyes and her mop of curls, is a perfect carrier for Mae’s air of abjection, flopping around her bed like a horny, gloomy Raggedy Ann.—
Emily Nussbaum,
New Yorker,
12 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
Your 11th House of Hopefulness lights up as enterprising Mars harmonizes with jovial Jupiter in your talkative 3rd house.—
Tarot.com,
Sun Sentinel,
21 Mar. 2026
-
The Kansas locker room felt jovial here in San Diego — more a reflection of the initial 32 minutes than the final eight of the just-find-a-way-to-hold-on win against California Baptist — but a booming voice still pierced through the noise.—
Sam McDowell,
Kansas City Star,
21 Mar. 2026
Adjective
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These are the chapters that feature the merry trickster of the forest, Tom Bombadil, a classic fiddle-dee-dee-mischief type who waylays the hobbits at the onset of their quest.—
Rebecca Alter,
Vulture,
25 Mar. 2026
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In Don’t Get High, an alpha dork and her merry gang of dweebs start an anti-drug group at their high school to make friends and influence people.—
Nellie Andreeva,
Deadline,
25 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
After Shideler was cross-examined, the feeling in the park outside was briefly gleeful.—
Rachel Monroe,
New Yorker,
26 Mar. 2026
-
Balancing their orchestrated plans with the spontaneity of a real participant is what gave the series its gleeful tension.—
Ben Travers,
IndieWire,
20 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
Of course, even for me there were still some jolly moments.—
Christine Smallwood,
Harpers Magazine,
24 Mar. 2026
-
Vivacious Mars dances with jolly Jupiter, energizing your 6th House of Practice and your 10th House of Ambition.—
Tarot.com,
Sun Sentinel,
21 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
The less cheerful part of all this is that Great America is unlikely to celebrate a 52nd birthday.—
Sal Pizarro,
Mercury News,
26 Mar. 2026
-
For generations of Valley families, this scene has unfolded at Castles N' Coasters, a cheerful outpost of fun in the desert that lives in nearly everyone's memory.—
Tiffany Acosta,
AZCentral.com,
25 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Smiling.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/smiling. Accessed 31 Mar. 2026.
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