1
as in to grin
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 to laugh
to express scornful amusement by means of facial contortions
smiled at their ridiculous antics and walked away in disgust
Synonyms & Similar Words
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of smile
Eric Sondheimer, Los Angeles Times, 24 Apr. 2026
There was nothing to smile about in Atlanta, the scene of the crime for a Knicks team that coughed up home-court advantage in Game 2, then fell into a 1-2 series deficit in its first-round playoff matchup in a crushing 109-108 loss to the Hawks on Thursday.
—Kristian Winfield, New York Daily News, 24 Apr. 2026
Susan Page, USA Today, 27 Apr. 2026
Jones’ smile could have covered it.
—Tony Baranek, Chicago Tribune, 27 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for smile
Verb
Sylmar coach Ray Rivera is smiling.
—Eric Sondheimer, Los Angeles Times, 24 Apr. 2026
There was nothing to smile about in Atlanta, the scene of the crime for a Knicks team that coughed up home-court advantage in Game 2, then fell into a 1-2 series deficit in its first-round playoff matchup in a crushing 109-108 loss to the Hawks on Thursday.
—Kristian Winfield, New York Daily News, 24 Apr. 2026
Noun
Her Majesty didn’t push her away but also didn’t return the gesture, a stiff-upper-lip smile on her face.
—Susan Page, USA Today, 27 Apr. 2026
Jones’ smile could have covered it.
—Tony Baranek, Chicago Tribune, 27 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for smile
Recent Examples of Synonyms for smile
Verb
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Assaidi, who grinned widely as he was led out of an NYPD stationhouse on his way to court for his arraignment, did not have any prior arrests, police said.—
Sarah Rumpf-Whitten,
FOXNews.com,
24 Apr. 2026
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As the others grinned and grimaced at their rivals’ responses, Becerra was as stone-faced as Buster Keaton.—
Gustavo Arellano,
Los Angeles Times,
23 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
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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For her part, the first lady nearly managed a smirk.—
Tony Maglio,
HollywoodReporter,
29 Apr. 2026
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In those heady decades of postmodern language-play and seductive irresolution, claims for literature as a force for truth and justice would likely be dismissed, with a smirk, as humanist pieties.—
Charlie Tyson,
The Atlantic,
27 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Smile.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/smile. Accessed 1 May. 2026.
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