as in chuckle
an explosive sound that is a sign of amusement
the joke provoked a sudden chortle from a bystander
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in to laugh
to show mirth with an explosive vocal sound
audiences might chortle gently during the movie's amusing bits, but there are few knee-slappers
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of chortle
Dalton Ross, EW.com, 29 May 2025
On the 101 in my bumper-car Prius, there’s one billboard that invariably gets a chortle out of me.
—Allie Garfinkle, Fortune, 23 Oct. 2024
Stephanie Zacharek, Time, 29 Aug. 2025
There were no knowing winks to the camera, no pause for an unseen audience to chortle at Stan's misfortune.
—Chris McMullen, Space.com, 2 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for chortle
Noun
Yoda made a slight sound of dissatisfaction, a grumbling chortle.
—Dalton Ross, EW.com, 29 May 2025
On the 101 in my bumper-car Prius, there’s one billboard that invariably gets a chortle out of me.
—Allie Garfinkle, Fortune, 23 Oct. 2024
Verb
Against all of this allegedly heady stuff, the score—by Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross—intentionally jars us from encroaching drowsiness with chortling woodwinds and shardlike piano chords that are the aural equivalent of jagged Plexiglass off-cuts.
—Stephanie Zacharek, Time, 29 Aug. 2025
There were no knowing winks to the camera, no pause for an unseen audience to chortle at Stan's misfortune.
—Chris McMullen, Space.com, 2 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for chortle
Recent Examples of Synonyms for chortle
Noun
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After a chuckle, someone asked what the doctor’s diagnosis had been.—
Rebecca Edmisten,
Mercury News,
22 Apr. 2026
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And what begins as a clever, high-concept joke doesn’t always build beyond a steady stream of chuckles.—
Dave Quinn,
PEOPLE,
21 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Read that sentence aloud and try not to laugh.—
Troy Renck,
Denver Post,
25 Apr. 2026
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When Daikin Park’s jumbotron showed exactly that, Chisholm could only laugh at himself.—
Gary Phillips,
New York Daily News,
25 Apr. 2026
Noun
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This special evening of laughter is presented by event founders Robert and Michelle Smigel with Jill Leiderman, and is directed by Glenn Weiss.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
29 Apr. 2026
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Everyone in the theater clammed up, as if embarrassed to have endorsed Max with laughter.—
Jackson McHenry,
Vulture,
29 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Shadows and strange sounds can set imaginations whirring—from the guttural roar of a hunting lion to the giggling calls of a feasting hyena pack.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
24 Apr. 2026
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Alan Cumming and Cynthia Rowley giggle away at the TriBeCa Ball at the New York Academy of Art in New York City on April 20.—
Katie Hill,
PEOPLE,
24 Apr. 2026
Noun
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The dialogue is overladen with snicker-worthy cliches, a swelling, melodramatic soundtrack that doesn’t match the mood, dubious cameos and plastic, perfunctory life-affirming quotes.—
Randy Myers,
Mercury News,
11 Mar. 2026
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The event also had free opportunities to take photos, get ice cream snickers and have earned a Super Bowl post card.—
Veronica Fernandez-Alvarado
Updated February 5,
Sacbee.com,
5 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Chortle.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/chortle. Accessed 2 May. 2026.
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