as in laughing
Related Words
Relevance
Dissimilar Words
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
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 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
Zoey Goto, Travel + Leisure, 8 Mar. 2026
But just as his monologue was getting off the ground, Gosling was surprised by audience member sitting up front — a casually dressed and smiling Harry Styles.
—Pat Saperstein, Variety, 8 Mar. 2026
Under his full copper mustache are widely smiling lips.
—Danielle Parker, CBS News, 8 Mar. 2026
But Pep Biel’s two goals and Idan Toklomati’s one score were enough to leave the crowd of 35,611 people in Bank of America Stadium smiling.
—Alex Zietlow, Charlotte Observer, 8 Mar. 2026
The mock ad featured a smiling woman holding a gun and kneeling beside a dog.
—Lorraine Ali
news, Los Angeles Times, 6 Mar. 2026
Epps told the smiling teen to look forward to leaving the hospital.
—Cheryl V. Jackson, IndyStar, 5 Mar. 2026
Noin caught herself smiling a few times before reining in her excitement.
—Eden Laase, New York Times, 5 Mar. 2026
But for a short time, on that night in January, 2015, the magic—the moon, the bonfire, and the children smiling mysteriously—felt nearly real, almost indestructible.
—Yiyun Li, New Yorker, 1 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
Visit an 80-foot-long smiling whale in Oklahoma.
—Zoey Goto, Travel + Leisure, 8 Mar. 2026
But just as his monologue was getting off the ground, Gosling was surprised by audience member sitting up front — a casually dressed and smiling Harry Styles.
—Pat Saperstein, Variety, 8 Mar. 2026
Under his full copper mustache are widely smiling lips.
—Danielle Parker, CBS News, 8 Mar. 2026
But Pep Biel’s two goals and Idan Toklomati’s one score were enough to leave the crowd of 35,611 people in Bank of America Stadium smiling.
—Alex Zietlow, Charlotte Observer, 8 Mar. 2026
The mock ad featured a smiling woman holding a gun and kneeling beside a dog.
—Lorraine Ali
news, Los Angeles Times, 6 Mar. 2026
Epps told the smiling teen to look forward to leaving the hospital.
—Cheryl V. Jackson, IndyStar, 5 Mar. 2026
Noin caught herself smiling a few times before reining in her excitement.
—Eden Laase, New York Times, 5 Mar. 2026
But for a short time, on that night in January, 2015, the magic—the moon, the bonfire, and the children smiling mysteriously—felt nearly real, almost indestructible.
—Yiyun Li, New Yorker, 1 Mar. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for smiling
Noun
-
The laughing becomes infectious.—
Omar L. Gallaga,
Los Angeles Times,
8 Mar. 2026
-
Belt It Out at Sweet Caroline Karaoke Bar If your idea of a great date involves a little chaos, a lot of laughing, and maybe a surprisingly decent duet, Sweet Caroline Karaoke Bar is calling your name.—
Lauren Schuster,
Miami Herald,
6 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
The 80-foot-long grinning behemoth floating in a roadside pond was built as an anniversary gift for the owner’s whale-loving wife.—
Zoey Goto,
Travel + Leisure,
8 Mar. 2026
-
On the short walk from the changing rooms to the outdoor saunas — despite banya hats flying off and robes coming undone in the sub-30-degree weather — the sauna-goers were grinning.—
Alexa Mikhail,
Flow Space,
6 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
Will, less amused, just wants to know what the hell is up with his friend.—
Christina Grace Tucker,
Vulture,
26 Feb. 2026
-
Simbi Khali played Nina Campbell, the sharp-witted assistant who often reacted to the Solomons’ antics with amused disbelief.—
Tereza Shkurtaj,
PEOPLE,
31 Jan. 2026
Adjective
-
Your 5th House of Joy and your 9th House of Mindsets both brighten as Sun trines jovial Jupiter, encouraging bold expression that also feels safe and well-timed.—
Tarot.com,
Sun Sentinel,
5 Mar. 2026
-
Philadelphia’s locker room wasn’t jovial on Wednesday night.—
Tony Jones,
New York Times,
5 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
Many movies tried to recreate its magic mixture, including some of its own sequels, but few achieved the merry concoction of frights, gore, and giggles that Craven handled so masterfully.—
Declan Gallagher,
Entertainment Weekly,
3 Mar. 2026
-
The atmosphere was noisy in a good way, with merry patrons having a good time.—
Charlotte Observer,
Charlotte Observer,
24 Feb. 2026
Adjective
-
Their wonky New Orleans bounce ideas, their mellow Jersey club hits, hell, even the gleeful beatjacking across their mixtapes, are all so thrilling and open to possibility compared to the practically conservative rage rap on wonderful.—
Mano Sundaresan,
Pitchfork,
3 Mar. 2026
-
Artists who speak out against this use also typically wind up spawning a gleeful response from the admin, usually filled with lots of half-baked wordplay.—
Jon Blistein,
Rolling Stone,
27 Feb. 2026
Adjective
-
There’s a great Wings photo that fans cherish — a day in the Scottish highlands, the family farm, Paul and the band playing a jolly game of footie while his sheepdog muse Martha joins in, chasing the ball.—
Rob Sheffield,
Rolling Stone,
24 Feb. 2026
-
His jolly presence, which is 21-feet wide, is stopping drivers in front of Katie Aalerud's house.—
Mike Sullivan,
CBS News,
19 Feb. 2026
Adjective
-
Creeping phlox is a great choice for edging, rock walls, or slopes, and will brighten any garden with its abundance of cheerful pastel blooms.—
Samantha Johnson,
Martha Stewart,
5 Mar. 2026
-
Daisies look more cute and cheerful than ever when paired with green cat-eye polish.—
Ariel Wodarcyk,
InStyle,
5 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Smiling.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/smiling. Accessed 11 Mar. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
