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
Loureen Ayyoub, CBS News, 8 Jan. 2026
Becky’s daughter Kaylie smiling as a baby.
—Becky Quick, CNBC, 8 Jan. 2026
So the sun came up smiling the morning after for this UConn team, 15-1.
—Dom Amore, Hartford Courant, 8 Jan. 2026
Separate Chiefs fan accounts have also included photos of Rice smiling with his kids on Facebook in 2023 and 2025.
—Caroline Blair, PEOPLE, 8 Jan. 2026
These are uncontroversial jokes that aim to bring people together and get everyone chuckling or smiling along.
—Big Think, 5 Nov. 2025
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
My smiling face on every poster for sleep-apnea studies.
—Cora Frazier, New Yorker, 3 Nov. 2025
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
The small Santa Clara diner offers a straightforward menu of burgers and burritos, paired with an abundance of patriotic decorations and walls covered in photographs of smiling customers.
—Loureen Ayyoub, CBS News, 8 Jan. 2026
Becky’s daughter Kaylie smiling as a baby.
—Becky Quick, CNBC, 8 Jan. 2026
So the sun came up smiling the morning after for this UConn team, 15-1.
—Dom Amore, Hartford Courant, 8 Jan. 2026
Separate Chiefs fan accounts have also included photos of Rice smiling with his kids on Facebook in 2023 and 2025.
—Caroline Blair, PEOPLE, 8 Jan. 2026
These are uncontroversial jokes that aim to bring people together and get everyone chuckling or smiling along.
—Big Think, 5 Nov. 2025
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
My smiling face on every poster for sleep-apnea studies.
—Cora Frazier, New Yorker, 3 Nov. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for smiling
Noun
-
In a video shared with CBS News Chicago by an immigration rapid response group, Bovino can be seen on the sidewalk standing with a group of Border Patrol agents, talking and laughing.—
Sabrina Franza,
CBS News,
16 Dec. 2025
-
Harbour and Brown arrived together on the red carpet for the premiere of the latest season and were captured on camera laughing, hugging each other and posing for photos.—
Kimberlee Speakman,
PEOPLE,
7 Nov. 2025
Verb
-
Mann’s hilarious Brad says to Ben, grinning nervously and clapping his hands in an attempt to make friends.—
Amy Nicholson,
Los Angeles Times,
9 Jan. 2026
-
In December, the foundation posted a Facebook video showing grinning Palestinian children in the van, their backpacks strapped and winter jackets zipped, on their way to school.—
Laura Turbay,
Chicago Tribune,
5 Jan. 2026
Adjective
-
In this case, Davis is more amused than embarrassed, and soon cedes the new man to Winnie.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
13 Jan. 2026
-
Karp had never seen it and seemed mildly amused, rather than irked by it.—
Reed Albergotti,
semafor.com,
19 Dec. 2025
Adjective
-
Despite the more jovial tone, the source said that the French leader's position was consistent in public and private.—
Yuliya Talmazan,
NBC news,
20 Jan. 2026
-
But the mood wasn’t entirely jovial.—
Tara Bannow,
STAT,
13 Jan. 2026
Adjective
-
In fact, the more, the merrier!—
Kaitlyn Yarborough,
Southern Living,
17 Jan. 2026
-
Our young hero Spike (Alfie Williams), having abandoned the secluded safety of his island home in the wake of his mother’s death, finds himself at the mercy of this merry band of bloodthirsty pranksters, shepherded by a sadistic Manson-esque leader, Sir Lord Jimmy Crystal (Jack O’Connell).—
Katie Walsh,
Dallas Morning News,
16 Jan. 2026
Adjective
-
The relatives ate with a mixture of businesslike efficiency and gleeful abandon.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
20 Jan. 2026
-
Under baseball’s rules, the Dodgers are punished financially for their gleeful spending.—
Steve Henson,
Los Angeles Times,
16 Jan. 2026
Adjective
-
The surviving kids begin to suspect something is up, but their attempts to appeal to this world’s sad excuses for adult supervision — a jolly mailman, a blank-faced nurse, and a talking train — just lead to more murders.—
Christian Zilko,
IndieWire,
23 Jan. 2026
-
The jolly grifter gets away with it.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
23 Jan. 2026
Adjective
-
Decorate cupcakes, ice cream, cookies, and even pancakes with this cheerful Valentine's Day sprinkle mix.—
Michele Laufik,
Martha Stewart,
21 Jan. 2026
-
Pinterest sought a color that is fun, energizing, and cheerful, and Persimmon rolls all those attributes into one playful shade.—
Sophia Beams,
Better Homes & Gardens,
20 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Smiling.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/smiling. Accessed 30 Jan. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
