as in smiling
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as in laughing
to express an emotion (as amusement) by curving the lips upward
grinned at the kids' fooling around in the pool
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Recent Examples of grinning
Matthew Fairburn, New York Times, 11 May 2026
Instead, out stepped the face of the mainstreamed hard right, grinning in light blue pants and a sports jacket.
—Alexander Smith, NBC news, 6 May 2026
Naturally, those struggling are crying foul over some of the new car requirements, while those winning are, well, grinning to say the least.
—Viju Mathew, Robb Report, 4 May 2026
Mira leaned back, shimmied under the limbo ribbon, then popped up, grinning, and shot her arms out triumphantly.
—Anna Wiener, New Yorker, 4 May 2026
The successful trainer kept grinning through a congratulatory gauntlet following Friday night's Kentucky Oaks at Churchill Downs, hoping that colt Emerging Market can double the celebration for him in Saturday's Kentucky Derby.
—ABC News, 1 May 2026
Parker tells me, grinning in his studio just outside of Los Angeles, in Altadena, in early April.
—Grayson Haver Currin, Pitchfork, 30 Apr. 2026
By then, Jeff had transformed into a supersmooth, grinning Willy Wonka.
—Jerry Saltz, Vulture, 20 Apr. 2026
Before Madonna descended back into the floor, the two shared a hug, leaving Carpenter grinning from ear to ear.
—Mike Snider, USA Today, 18 Apr. 2026
Verb
Before the team left for Montreal, Helenius was grinning from ear to ear talking about the experience of practicing with the Sabres at this time of year.
—Matthew Fairburn, New York Times, 11 May 2026
Instead, out stepped the face of the mainstreamed hard right, grinning in light blue pants and a sports jacket.
—Alexander Smith, NBC news, 6 May 2026
Naturally, those struggling are crying foul over some of the new car requirements, while those winning are, well, grinning to say the least.
—Viju Mathew, Robb Report, 4 May 2026
Mira leaned back, shimmied under the limbo ribbon, then popped up, grinning, and shot her arms out triumphantly.
—Anna Wiener, New Yorker, 4 May 2026
The successful trainer kept grinning through a congratulatory gauntlet following Friday night's Kentucky Oaks at Churchill Downs, hoping that colt Emerging Market can double the celebration for him in Saturday's Kentucky Derby.
—ABC News, 1 May 2026
Parker tells me, grinning in his studio just outside of Los Angeles, in Altadena, in early April.
—Grayson Haver Currin, Pitchfork, 30 Apr. 2026
By then, Jeff had transformed into a supersmooth, grinning Willy Wonka.
—Jerry Saltz, Vulture, 20 Apr. 2026
Before Madonna descended back into the floor, the two shared a hug, leaving Carpenter grinning from ear to ear.
—Mike Snider, USA Today, 18 Apr. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for grinning
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
Verb
-
The Iron Man star then burst out laughing.—
Jack Smart,
PEOPLE,
20 May 2026
-
Alon responded with laughing emojis.—
Miami Herald,
Miami Herald,
19 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Grinning.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/grinning. Accessed 22 May. 2026.
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