chortle 1 of 2

noun

Definition of chortlenext
as in chuckle
an explosive sound that is a sign of amusement the joke provoked a sudden chortle from a bystander

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

chortle

2 of 2

verb

ˈchȯr-tᵊl How to pronounce chortle (audio)
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

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of 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
Some will laugh at the suggestion and scroll through their social media apps to find a clip to point at and chortle. — Jon Krawczynski, New York Times, 7 Jan. 2026 The nightingale flew around the fox’s head, the two of them chortling in their own indiscernible ways. — Hazlitt, 19 Nov. 2025 See All Example Sentences for chortle
Recent Examples of Synonyms for chortle
  1. chuckle
  2. laugh
  3. laughter
  4. giggle
  5. snicker
Noun
  • David’s Davidness—always eating a bowl of cereal before bed, hoarding Wagon Wheels, calling his artificial sweeteners ‘depth charges,’ laughing with a half-private chuckle at his own bad jokes—comes off the page in sparks.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 8 Oct. 2026
  • Toward the end of the panel, Buttimer noted that Connaughton would have wanted to argue with each speaker, drawing chuckles from the audience.
    — Charlotte Observer, Charlotte Observer, 24 Sep. 2026
Definition of chuckle
Verb
  • Less than half a mile away, business owner Sierra Jordan told CNN the familiar sound of children laughing and playing outside at recess gave way to the frantic arrival of ambulances.
    — Alaa Elassar, CNN Money, 17 Oct. 2026
  • At-large Councilwoman Victoria Watlington posted an Instagram video of herself laughing about the situation the morning after the meeting.
    — Nick Sullivan, Charlotte Observer, 17 Oct. 2026
Definition of laugh
Noun
  • Moments of mutual support and understanding, of belly-aching laughter and silliness, of care and deep love.
    — Kevin Dolak, HollywoodReporter, 14 Oct. 2026
  • But there were scores of times that the specific verbiages were a source of humor judging by the laughter of many in the audience.
    — Bill Hirschman, Sun Sentinel, 13 Oct. 2026
Definition of laughter
Verb
  • Less scrolling on the toilet in fear, more giggling with compatriots in joy.
    — Sarah Larson, New Yorker, 11 Oct. 2026
  • The two giggled momentarily before Quiñonez turned back and answered candidly.
    — Jake McCreven, Hartford Courant, 4 Oct. 2026
Definition of giggle
Noun
  • But there’s another 45 supremely indulgent auteur gunk that is snicker-worthy.
    — Abid Rahman, HollywoodReporter, 14 Sep. 2026
  • As executed, the 2019 show is an emotional yet refreshingly unsentimental black comedy that snickers in the face of empowerment buzzwords like, well, healing journey.
    — Judy Berman, Time, 11 Aug. 2026
Definition of snicker

Browse Nearby Words

chorography
chortle
chortled
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Cite this Entry

“Chortle.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/chortle. Accessed 20 Oct. 2026.

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