as in laughing
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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
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
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of smiling
Luca Evans, Denver Post, 24 Oct. 2025
Raechal Shewfelt, Entertainment Weekly, 31 Oct. 2025
Umanmielen responded with a GIF of a smiling, but famously blind, Stevie Wonder.
—Alex Zietlow, Charlotte Observer, 25 Sep. 2025
Shad Powers, USA Today, 25 Apr. 2026
Crack into a can of craft beer, gaze at the wall plastered with polaroids of smiling patrons, and tuck into an engrossing read on one of the tweed armchairs.
—Kat Chen, Condé Nast Traveler, 25 Apr. 2026
Manilow, 82, can be seen smiling in New York City in the photos taken on Friday, April 24.
—Angel Saunders, PEOPLE, 25 Apr. 2026
Daniel Farke cannot help smiling as he is asked about Eddie Gray and Leeds United’s history at Wembley with Chelsea.
—Beren Cross, New York Times, 25 Apr. 2026
Sylmar coach Ray Rivera is smiling.
—Eric Sondheimer, Los Angeles Times, 24 Apr. 2026
On the cover of her second album, 2003’s Life for Rent, she is pictured wearing a sensible jacket to match her sensible long bob and her sensible-sounding music, smiling to herself like the model that comes with the picture frame.
—Shaad D’souza, Pitchfork, 19 Apr. 2026
Yi-hyeok’s smiling portrait rested on a table cradled by a sea of white chrysanthemums.
—Mike Valerio, CNN Money, 19 Apr. 2026
In the photo, Cohn is smiling and giving a thumbs-up.
—Kimberly Nordyke, HollywoodReporter, 19 Apr. 2026
Adjective
As Thomas’ parents, Katina Smith and Bobby Thomas, unveiled their son’s smiling statue in the Broncos’ Ring of Fame Plaza last Sunday, as scores of his former teammates looked on in sadness and joy, Miller was 800 miles away in Dallas, gearing up for a game against the Cowboys.
—Luca Evans, Denver Post, 24 Oct. 2025
Noun
There was a lot of nervous smiling.
—Raechal Shewfelt, Entertainment Weekly, 31 Oct. 2025
Umanmielen responded with a GIF of a smiling, but famously blind, Stevie Wonder.
—Alex Zietlow, Charlotte Observer, 25 Sep. 2025
Verb
Sweeney asks in the commercial, posing in denim shorts against a blue sky backdrop, while smiling and playing with her hair.
—Shad Powers, USA Today, 25 Apr. 2026
Crack into a can of craft beer, gaze at the wall plastered with polaroids of smiling patrons, and tuck into an engrossing read on one of the tweed armchairs.
—Kat Chen, Condé Nast Traveler, 25 Apr. 2026
Manilow, 82, can be seen smiling in New York City in the photos taken on Friday, April 24.
—Angel Saunders, PEOPLE, 25 Apr. 2026
Daniel Farke cannot help smiling as he is asked about Eddie Gray and Leeds United’s history at Wembley with Chelsea.
—Beren Cross, New York Times, 25 Apr. 2026
Sylmar coach Ray Rivera is smiling.
—Eric Sondheimer, Los Angeles Times, 24 Apr. 2026
On the cover of her second album, 2003’s Life for Rent, she is pictured wearing a sensible jacket to match her sensible long bob and her sensible-sounding music, smiling to herself like the model that comes with the picture frame.
—Shaad D’souza, Pitchfork, 19 Apr. 2026
Yi-hyeok’s smiling portrait rested on a table cradled by a sea of white chrysanthemums.
—Mike Valerio, CNN Money, 19 Apr. 2026
In the photo, Cohn is smiling and giving a thumbs-up.
—Kimberly Nordyke, HollywoodReporter, 19 Apr. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for smiling
Noun
-
Keith moved into the center of the balcony, posing and laughing.—
Danielle Parker,
CBS News,
14 Apr. 2026
-
There was none of the usual laughing and joking.—
Mario Cortegana,
New York Times,
20 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
By then, Jeff had transformed into a supersmooth, grinning Willy Wonka.—
Jerry Saltz,
Vulture,
20 Apr. 2026
-
Vince watched on a monitor, grinning.—
Zach Helfand,
New Yorker,
20 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
Obama’s staff would look less amused a few weeks later, as their boss hosted President-elect Trump at the White House.—
W. James Antle III,
The Washington Examiner,
25 Apr. 2026
-
The kids on This Is a Gardening Show appear to be very amused by you.—
Mikey O'Connell,
HollywoodReporter,
22 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
The series opens with Niall’s jovial Scottish wedding.—
Daniel Fienberg,
HollywoodReporter,
21 Apr. 2026
-
In New Orleans, one of the earliest slammers was a jovial fellow named Damian Labeaud, who, starting in 2010, recruited passengers from the local community with the promise of insurance payouts, then took them hunting on the freeway for a truck.—
Patrick Radden Keefe,
New Yorker,
13 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
Knoxville and his merry band of delightfully sadistic goons are back for one possibly final rodeo.—
Fran Hoepfner,
Vulture,
27 Apr. 2026
-
October welcomes the annual Amelia Island Jazz Festival, and December plays host to Dickens on Centre, which gives downtown Fernandina a merry Victorian makeover just before Christmas.—
Betsy Cribb Watson,
Southern Living,
26 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
Through gleeful anarchy, a variety of filters, and a kinetic score, the two Maries spoil themselves with sweets, outwit suitors, and desecrate the rituals of fine dining in a glorious climax of rebellion.—
Jennifer Noyes,
Air Mail,
25 Apr. 2026
-
This relic of a production, however, doesn’t feel particularly dangerous, shocking or even gleeful.—
Frank Rizzo,
Variety,
24 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
The neighborhood Neighboring St Moritz was adopted in the 19th century by all those jolly-hockey-stick Brits, who introduced skiing and tobogganing, but little Sils Maria has always been more cerebral.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
23 Apr. 2026
-
Of course, even for me there were still some jolly moments.—
Christine Smallwood,
Harpers Magazine,
24 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
In recent years, Grohl has been in the news for less cheerful reasons.—
Stuart Berman,
Pitchfork,
25 Apr. 2026
-
Just take a look at how this fence mural by Sarah Murphy adds a cheerful pop of color to this outdoor space.—
Tessa Cooper,
The Spruce,
25 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Smiling.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/smiling. Accessed 1 May. 2026.
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