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
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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
Synonyms & Similar Words
as in laughing
Related Words
Dissimilar Words
Example Sentences
Recent Examples of Synonyms for smiling
Verb
-
In the photos, Williams can be seen smiling and laughing while wearing a black dress.—
Kimberlee Speakman,
People.com,
12 Apr. 2025 -
People couldn't stop laughing at the pup's acting performance, with some viewers even falling and defending his theatrics.—
Daniel R. Depetris,
MSNBC Newsweek,
10 Apr. 2025
Adjective
-
But as the incidents racked up, players started to be less amused.—
Emma Hinchliffe,
Fortune,
12 Aug. 2025
-
But amused fans of both Android and iOS had plenty to say.—
Leslie Katz,
Forbes.com,
4 Aug. 2025
Adjective
-
That's how the film lures in its audience: The jovial concept gives way to the more serious topic of man's colonization of nature.—
Devan Coggan,
EW.com,
1 Aug. 2025
-
In the first inning, Garcia gave Acuña a jovial finger-wag after beating his incoming throw from right field while simultaneously scoring a run.—
Kansas City Star,
Kansas City Star,
29 July 2025
Adjective
-
Robin Hood and his merry men were yeomen of the most courageous sort.—
Charles Hammer,
Kansas City Star,
25 June 2025
-
Luis Enrique’s merry band of wunderkind’s lap the confetti-laden Allianz Arena.—
Brett Koremenos,
New York Times,
30 May 2025
Adjective
-
The gleeful, attentive crowd — heavy on young women in cowgirl drag — cheered on the new songs and cheered even harder for the old ones.—
Ross Raihala,
Twin Cities,
26 July 2025
-
And the cast, in particular Clement as Pure Evil and Lisa Kudrow as the time bandits’ leader, Penelope, were all having a great time, giving the series an infectiously gleeful energy.—
Vulture Editors,
Vulture,
23 July 2025
Adjective
-
Crosby released a number of tunes throughout his career that were made perfectly for the jolliest time of the year, and his wins are still coming his way, even decades after his passing.—
Hugh McIntyre,
Forbes,
27 Dec. 2024
-
Instead of its usual jolly cartoons, the channel began broadcasting footage of Russian military parades accompanied by music of the Russian nationalist singer Oleg Gazmanov.—
Tereza Pultarova,
Space.com,
7 Apr. 2025
Adjective
-
Most people equate happiness with automatically being cheerful all the time.—
Mark Travers,
Forbes.com,
1 Aug. 2025
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Drawing daisies at the cuticle line of a couple nails paired with double French tips is a perfect recipe for a cute and cheerful mani.—
Catharine Malzahn,
Glamour,
31 July 2025
Adjective
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The Saffiano leather tote is sturdy and available in two cheery colors: a white Meringue and a light pink Terracotta Tile.—
Gabriela Izquierdo,
Southern Living,
26 July 2025
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Available in the brand’s cheery Blueberry and Raspberry colors, the lightweight pan is made from aluminized steel for even browning and has a dual-layered nonstick ceramic coating that helps sweet and savory bakes slide right out.—
Mark Marino,
Bon Appetit Magazine,
26 June 2025
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Cite this Entry
“Smiling.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/smiling. Accessed 19 Aug. 2025.
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