as in chuckles
an explosive sound that is a sign of amusement
managed to keep a straight face for a minute before he let loose with a loud guffaw
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of guffaws
Emily Nussbaum, New Yorker, 16 Apr. 2026
Expect guffaws, and bring tissues.
—Scott Hocker, TheWeek, 18 Mar. 2026
But both episodes so far have gotten a few killer guffaws out of me.
—Andy Andersen, Vulture, 9 Mar. 2026
So, after the sombrero drew hearty guffaws, my friend Jim busied himself finding monuments to chip-and-dip tastelessness.
—Lee Michael Katz, USA Today, 20 Dec. 2025
This was the first year in recent memory where none of the nominees in the big four categories set off a hearty round of guffaws across my various chats and social media feeds.
—Eric Renner Brown, Billboard, 11 Nov. 2025
Everybody behind the camera could barely hold back the guffaws.
—Cameron Crowe, HollywoodReporter, 24 Oct. 2025
Noun
There were waves of guffaws and, also, supportive finger-snapping.
—Emily Nussbaum, New Yorker, 16 Apr. 2026
Expect guffaws, and bring tissues.
—Scott Hocker, TheWeek, 18 Mar. 2026
But both episodes so far have gotten a few killer guffaws out of me.
—Andy Andersen, Vulture, 9 Mar. 2026
So, after the sombrero drew hearty guffaws, my friend Jim busied himself finding monuments to chip-and-dip tastelessness.
—Lee Michael Katz, USA Today, 20 Dec. 2025
This was the first year in recent memory where none of the nominees in the big four categories set off a hearty round of guffaws across my various chats and social media feeds.
—Eric Renner Brown, Billboard, 11 Nov. 2025
Everybody behind the camera could barely hold back the guffaws.
—Cameron Crowe, HollywoodReporter, 24 Oct. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for guffaws
Noun
-
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
-
The line was met with one or two chuckles from the hearing room, which was at capacity.—
Kevin Breuninger,Jeff Cox,Alex Harring,Matt Peterson,
CNBC,
21 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Her daughter giggles as she's swung throughout the air, until Moore realizes that something isn't quite right.—
Hannah Sacks,
PEOPLE,
9 Jan. 2026
-
The teaser video that followed showed a device straight out of a sci-fi film, something between Wall-E and BB-8, with a camera that giggles and swivels on command.—
Aamir Khollam,
Interesting Engineering,
15 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
One can see why wrestling appealed to him—the crowd is everything, the rules mean nothing, and the referees are so feckless that they often get knocked out and everyone laughs.—
Zach Helfand,
New Yorker,
20 Apr. 2026
-
In one snap, the foursome laughs as Crown Prince Christian pretends to grab his younger brother's neck.—
Janine Henni,
PEOPLE,
20 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
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
-
While there were a few snickers, the photographers obliged and got their photos.—
Brittany Spanos,
Rolling Stone,
11 Nov. 2025
Verb
-
The blackbird really chortles away.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
23 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Kōnane cackles with the frayed voice of a centuries-old elder.—
Matt Negrin,
Rolling Stone,
20 Sep. 2025
-
But her signature cackles always give up the game.—
Kathryn VanArendonk,
Vulture,
15 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Guffaws.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/guffaws. Accessed 2 May. 2026.
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