SMILED Synonyms: 49 Similar and Opposite Words

smiled

verb

past tense of smile

as in grinned

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

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in laughed

to express scornful amusement by means of facial contortions smiled at their ridiculous antics and walked away in disgust

Synonyms & Similar Words

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 smiled Lindell smiled, evidently relishing the chance to guide the customer toward a solution—and a potential sale—that might otherwise have fallen through. — Claire Zillman, Fortune, 30 July 2026 Baker smiled widely, nodded his head, greeted Ortiz in Spanish, chuckled and walked over to Ortiz and Vladimir Guerrero, giving each of them hugs and pats on the back. — Jose De Jesus Ortiz, Los Angeles Times, 28 July 2026 As her long brown hair blew in in the wind, Lopez smiled at the camera, offering up a peek at her birthday ensemble. — Chanel Vargas, InStyle, 24 July 2026 The pair smiled for photos backstage as Stalter continues her run in the hit Broadway comedy. — Angelique Brenes, PEOPLE, 23 July 2026 The deposed dictator smiled, greeted court personnel, and shook hands with lawyers after entering the courtroom, according to the Associated Press. — Kaelan Deese, The Washington Examiner, 22 July 2026 But as Melendrez turned to leave empty-handed, Chin looked up from behind the counter, smiled, and waved him back. — Alaa Elassar, CNN Money, 20 July 2026 Heaps, all business, smiled and nodded to the crowd but never broke stride. — Sean Keeler, Denver Post, 18 July 2026 Lewandowski, 37, smiled and moved easily from English to Polish to Spanish in a packed press conference room at the stunning Endeavor Health Performance Center, one of MLS’s premier new training grounds. — Paul Tenorio, New York Times, 15 July 2026

Recent Examples of Synonyms for smiled

Verb

In one pic, the family of four posed together on the beach with Sybil sporting a playful pout while the rest of the bunch grinned.

— Rachel McRady, PEOPLE, 27 July 2026
In 2014, Josh Brolin appeared in Hall H, slipped on the Infinity Gauntlet, and grinned.

— Hannah Abraham, Forbes.com, 26 July 2026

Definition of grinned

Browse Nearby Words

smile

smiled

smiles

See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

Style

“Smiled.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/smiled. Accessed 4 Aug. 2026.

Copy Citation

Synonyms of smiled

verb

Example Sentences

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

More from Merriam-Webster on smiled

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

élan

Popular in Grammar & Usage

7 Pairs of Commonly Confused Words

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

Is it 'nerve-racking' or 'nerve-wracking'?

'Sneaked' or 'Snuck': Which is correct?

Why does English have so many silent letters?

Popular in Wordplay

Dutch Treat and French Leave: Eight Place-Based Compounds

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

The Longest Long Words List

How long is a jiffy?

Even More Bird Names that Sound Like Insults (and Sometimes Are)

Popular

7 Pairs of Commonly Confused Words

Dutch Treat and French Leave: Eight Place-Based Compounds

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

Games & Quizzes