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
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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
Shaad D’souza, Pitchfork, 19 Apr. 2026
Yi-hyeok’s smiling portrait rested on a table cradled by a sea of white chrysanthemums.
—Mike Valerio, CNN Money, 19 Apr. 2026
In the photo, Cohn is smiling and giving a thumbs-up.
—Kimberly Nordyke, HollywoodReporter, 19 Apr. 2026
Following Graf's decision, Robinson was seen briefly smiling.
—Stepheny Price , Sarah Rumpf-Whitten , Michael Ruiz, FOXNews.com, 17 Apr. 2026
Keep your head up and keep smiling!
—Assistant Sports Editor, Los Angeles Times, 17 Apr. 2026
The millennial-Gen Z generational divide, both sides fighting over scraps of a shrinking pie while still in smiling, obsequious service to aging boomers, is an enticing hook made more so by meta casting.
—Alison Herman, Variety, 16 Apr. 2026
They were seen standing with their arms around one another and smiling brightly.
—Kimberlee Speakman, PEOPLE, 16 Apr. 2026
The Navy said the astronauts were sitting, waving hello and smiling.
—Gary Robbins, San Diego Union-Tribune, 12 Apr. 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
On the cover of her second album, 2003’s Life for Rent, she is pictured wearing a sensible jacket to match her sensible long bob and her sensible-sounding music, smiling to herself like the model that comes with the picture frame.
—Shaad D’souza, Pitchfork, 19 Apr. 2026
Yi-hyeok’s smiling portrait rested on a table cradled by a sea of white chrysanthemums.
—Mike Valerio, CNN Money, 19 Apr. 2026
In the photo, Cohn is smiling and giving a thumbs-up.
—Kimberly Nordyke, HollywoodReporter, 19 Apr. 2026
Following Graf's decision, Robinson was seen briefly smiling.
—Stepheny Price , Sarah Rumpf-Whitten , Michael Ruiz, FOXNews.com, 17 Apr. 2026
Keep your head up and keep smiling!
—Assistant Sports Editor, Los Angeles Times, 17 Apr. 2026
The millennial-Gen Z generational divide, both sides fighting over scraps of a shrinking pie while still in smiling, obsequious service to aging boomers, is an enticing hook made more so by meta casting.
—Alison Herman, Variety, 16 Apr. 2026
They were seen standing with their arms around one another and smiling brightly.
—Kimberlee Speakman, PEOPLE, 16 Apr. 2026
The Navy said the astronauts were sitting, waving hello and smiling.
—Gary Robbins, San Diego Union-Tribune, 12 Apr. 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
-
Vince watched on a monitor, grinning.—
Zach Helfand,
New Yorker,
20 Apr. 2026
-
Before Madonna descended back into the floor, the two shared a hug, leaving Carpenter grinning from ear to ear.—
Mike Snider,
USA Today,
18 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
The moment, shared via ViralHog, has since drawn amused reactions online, with viewers turning the unexpected encounter into humor.—
Ashley Vega,
PEOPLE,
10 Apr. 2026
-
Nathanael said with his eyebrows raised and an amused look on his face.—
Lauren Brown West-Rosenthal,
Parents,
2 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
In New Orleans, one of the earliest slammers was a jovial fellow named Damian Labeaud, who, starting in 2010, recruited passengers from the local community with the promise of insurance payouts, then took them hunting on the freeway for a truck.—
Patrick Radden Keefe,
New Yorker,
13 Apr. 2026
-
What gives a being that’s tantamount to a jovial blank slate such staying power?—
Christopher Cruz,
Rolling Stone,
5 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
Using Too Many Small Bins The more bins, the merrier?—
Sarah Lyon,
Southern Living,
10 Apr. 2026
-
Mau's reckless band of merry men inevitably leave a trail of bodies in their wake, leading police captain Brander Lawson (Wagner Moura) to investigate the criminal takeover of Janix.—
Fran Ruiz,
Space.com,
6 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
The aggressive tactics of the agents and the gleeful social media posts by DHS accusing protesters of serious crimes, Fishman said, affect people’s willingness to publicly challenge the mass deportation policies.—
A.C. Thompson,
ProPublica,
14 Apr. 2026
-
The actor leans into the character’s biting theatricality with gleeful abandon.—
Dave Quinn,
PEOPLE,
13 Apr. 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
-
Each layer of this cake is studded with sweet, fresh berries and tart lemon while pureed blueberries give the frosting its bright and cheerful color.—
Cameron Beall,
Southern Living,
11 Apr. 2026
-
The Confetti Dot, in cheerful red or navy, is a festive favorite and a go-to gift.—
Tory Johnson,
ABC News,
9 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Smiling.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/smiling. Accessed 20 Apr. 2026.
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