1
as in giggles
to show mirth with an explosive vocal sound
everyone laughed when the clown dramatically slipped and fell
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in smiles
to express scornful amusement by means of facial contortions
you're going to try out for the football team? Don't make me laugh!
Synonyms & Similar Words
1
as in chuckles
an explosive sound that is a sign of amusement
the child's frown turned into a laugh when he saw the clown
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in hoots
someone or something that is very funny
that new sitcom is a laugh
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in jokes
something said or done to cause laughter
the film comedy had a good laugh in just about every scene
Synonyms & Similar Words
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of 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
Reflecting on this moment, Mering laughs.
—Angie Martoccio, Rolling Stone, 20 Apr. 2026
Hayden, working the grill behind her husband, laughs and shakes her head with a slight eye roll the way only a loving wife can.
—Matthew Odam, Austin American Statesman, 2 Apr. 2026
Henry takes in Link, who at this point is a teenager and laughs him off.
—Maggie Fremont, Vulture, 30 Mar. 2026
Now a senior, Kleemann just laughs at the idea.
—Sam Brief, Chicago Tribune, 25 Mar. 2026
The remark drew a mix of gasps, murmurs and laughs from others in the room.
—Emily Chang, ABC News, 19 Mar. 2026
And Newton kept the crowd going with screams and laughs through tonight’s screening, sitting right behind her co-star Shawn Hatosy.
—Dessi Gomez, Deadline, 13 Mar. 2026
Katie Campione, Deadline, 25 Apr. 2026
Their laughs and chatter fill the countryside and one another’s hearts, the merriment binding them all together like caterpillars in one big cocoon.
—Brian Moylan, Vulture, 24 Apr. 2026
Over Your Dead Body knows that sustaining a harmonious union amid petty jealousies, paranoia, and personal flaws is hard; navigating a hostage situation involving desperate sickos and sociopaths is even harder; and maintaining a balance of laughs and gag-reflex tweaking is the hardest of it all.
—David Fear, Rolling Stone, 24 Apr. 2026
Opening on Thursday, April 23 at Studio 54 in New York City, this starry production leans fully into the show's campy pleasures, delivering plenty of laughs, strong performances and visual flair.
—Dave Quinn, PEOPLE, 24 Apr. 2026
Although the ceremony was somber, in the minutes leading up to it, music played and people dressed in orange, bright yellow and black exchanged hugs and laughs.
—Sacbee.com, 24 Apr. 2026
In a shift for the annual White House Correspondents' Association dinner, this year's host is set on blowing minds instead of going for laughs.
—Anthony Robledo, USA Today, 23 Apr. 2026
But this was different, more personal, more laughs, showing why Manning decided to hold live events honoring the 2006 Colts, 1989 San Francisco 49ers and Pat Summitt’s legacy at the University of Tennessee.
—Troy Renck, Denver Post, 23 Apr. 2026
Wonder even did an impression of Murphy’s impression of him, which received big laughs from the crowd.
—John Ross, Vanity Fair, 19 Apr. 2026
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
Reflecting on this moment, Mering laughs.
—Angie Martoccio, Rolling Stone, 20 Apr. 2026
Hayden, working the grill behind her husband, laughs and shakes her head with a slight eye roll the way only a loving wife can.
—Matthew Odam, Austin American Statesman, 2 Apr. 2026
Henry takes in Link, who at this point is a teenager and laughs him off.
—Maggie Fremont, Vulture, 30 Mar. 2026
Now a senior, Kleemann just laughs at the idea.
—Sam Brief, Chicago Tribune, 25 Mar. 2026
The remark drew a mix of gasps, murmurs and laughs from others in the room.
—Emily Chang, ABC News, 19 Mar. 2026
And Newton kept the crowd going with screams and laughs through tonight’s screening, sitting right behind her co-star Shawn Hatosy.
—Dessi Gomez, Deadline, 13 Mar. 2026
Noun
Some of the masterminds behind NBC‘s Saturday Night Live Season 51 brought the laughs all the way from Studio 8H to the DGA Theater to break down the process behind keeping the iconic sketch comedy engine running after more than five decades for Deadline Contenders TV.
—Katie Campione, Deadline, 25 Apr. 2026
Their laughs and chatter fill the countryside and one another’s hearts, the merriment binding them all together like caterpillars in one big cocoon.
—Brian Moylan, Vulture, 24 Apr. 2026
Over Your Dead Body knows that sustaining a harmonious union amid petty jealousies, paranoia, and personal flaws is hard; navigating a hostage situation involving desperate sickos and sociopaths is even harder; and maintaining a balance of laughs and gag-reflex tweaking is the hardest of it all.
—David Fear, Rolling Stone, 24 Apr. 2026
Opening on Thursday, April 23 at Studio 54 in New York City, this starry production leans fully into the show's campy pleasures, delivering plenty of laughs, strong performances and visual flair.
—Dave Quinn, PEOPLE, 24 Apr. 2026
Although the ceremony was somber, in the minutes leading up to it, music played and people dressed in orange, bright yellow and black exchanged hugs and laughs.
—Sacbee.com, 24 Apr. 2026
In a shift for the annual White House Correspondents' Association dinner, this year's host is set on blowing minds instead of going for laughs.
—Anthony Robledo, USA Today, 23 Apr. 2026
But this was different, more personal, more laughs, showing why Manning decided to hold live events honoring the 2006 Colts, 1989 San Francisco 49ers and Pat Summitt’s legacy at the University of Tennessee.
—Troy Renck, Denver Post, 23 Apr. 2026
Wonder even did an impression of Murphy’s impression of him, which received big laughs from the crowd.
—John Ross, Vanity Fair, 19 Apr. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for laughs
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
-
Endorsement watch Attorney General Chris Carr (right) smiles with his wife, Joan Carr, after casting his vote during the first day of early voting Monday for Georgia's primary elections.—
Adam Beam,
AJC.com,
30 Apr. 2026
-
The family smiles while dressed casually and barefoot, squinting from the sun's rays.—
Taijuan Moorman,
USA Today,
29 Apr. 2026
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
Noun
-
Wiseman said to hoots from the crowd of media gathered at the site.—
Richard Tribou,
The Orlando Sentinel,
27 Mar. 2026
-
Owl hoots are most effective at striking up turkeys when owls are naturally active, which is around dawn and dusk.—
Natalie Krebs,
Outdoor Life,
11 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
One of his jokes in particular has drawn new attention, given the shooting incident at the dinner on Saturday, forcing the Secret Service to rush the Trumps and other administration officials from the dais and other seats near the stage.—
Ted Johnson,
Deadline,
27 Apr. 2026
-
Kimmel delivered the jokes about the first lady at a special version of his show that included his version of a fake monologue for the WHCD.—
Dave Goldiner,
New York Daily News,
27 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Nothing screams influence quite like Victoria Beckham wearing her own designs to the Time100 Summit.—
Karla Rodriguez,
Footwear News,
23 Apr. 2026
-
Officer Kyle McLaughlin, patrolling the Upper West Side on his steed Kelly, was alerted by a victim’s screams and immediately galloped into action.—
Voice of the People,
New York Daily News,
19 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Meanwhile her old-school Communist grandmother sneers at the tactics her Red Diaper daughter employed.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
6 Jan. 2026
-
Jacob sneers, but doesn’t even wait for his son to answer.—
Kimberly Roots,
TVLine,
15 Aug. 2025
Verb
-
Wells, hidden in a tiny video-village setup inside one of the set’s curtained exam rooms, grins at the monitor and turns around to give Einesman a thumbs-up.—
Kathryn VanArendonk,
Vulture,
17 Apr. 2026
-
Adam Brody grins from ear to ear while supporting Nobody Wants This at the 2026 PaleyFest in Los Angeles on April 8.—
Toria Sheffield,
PEOPLE,
13 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Laughs.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/laughs. Accessed 1 May. 2026.
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