LAUGHTER Synonyms: 36 Similar and Opposite Words

laughter

noun

ˈlaf-tər

Definition of laughter

as in chuckle

an explosive sound that is a sign of amusement the nervous producers were reassured by the sounds of laughter coming from the theater

Synonyms & Similar Words

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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 laughter Their mother, Janet, heard their laughter and popped into the room—the downstairs den, refitted with a hospital bed—and asked what was so funny. — Via Scribner, Literary Hub, 9 Oct. 2026 Dolly’s heartfelt wish was that Dollywood always remain a place of joy, hope and togetherness — a space where families and friends could honor her memory, not with silence, but with laughter, music and shared dreams. — Gil Kaufman, Billboard, 8 Oct. 2026 Bridey’s first response to life, even to its darknesses, is laughter. — Garth Greenwell, New Yorker, 6 Oct. 2026 The audience has arrived, the jokes are ready, and the next room of laughter keeps getting bigger. — Preezy Brown, VIBE.com, 6 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for laughter

Recent Examples of Synonyms for laughter

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

Noun

Or two birds face-to-face in close proximity, covering themselves with their wings as if to share a secret kiss away from prying eyes, could evoke a giggle.

— Amarachi Orie, CNN Money, 6 Oct. 2026
Whittler kept trying to make it through the broadcast, but couldn’t contain her giggles.

— Rachel McRady, PEOPLE, 28 Aug. 2026

Definition of giggle

Noun

But acknowledging a property’s cheesy elements isn’t the same as generating consistent laughs from the situation.

— Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 16 Oct. 2026
Among the biggest laughs of the ceremony came during Friml’s take on an awards-show in memoriam.

— Destiny Jackson, Deadline, 15 Oct. 2026

Definition of laugh

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

laughs off

laughter

laughters

See all Nearby Words

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Style

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

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Synonyms of laughter

noun

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