as in laughing
Related Words
Relevance
Dissimilar Words
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
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 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
Melissa Ruggieri, USA Today, 8 Feb. 2026
Jones hasn't made any political statements, but was happy to film herself smiling with then-VP Kamala Harris during the Biden administration.
—Kathleen Walsh, Glamour, 8 Feb. 2026
Volkswagen’s The Force, 2011 Just try to resist smiling while watching this adorable Volkswagen commercial, which combines youthful ambition and some loving sleight of hand.
—Vogue, 8 Feb. 2026
At the 60-second mark is a quick scene of two primates with the Obamas' smiling faces imposed on them.
—Bill Barrow, Arkansas Online, 7 Feb. 2026
At the 60-second mark is a quick scene of two jungle primates, with the Obamas’ smiling faces imposed on them.
—Bill Barrow, Fortune, 7 Feb. 2026
The toy is available in both the frowning, and the original smiling version, and many people have taken to buying them as a pair.
—Emma Li, CBS News, 6 Feb. 2026
At the 60-second mark is a quick scene of two primates, with the Obamas’ smiling faces imposed on them.
—Josh Boak, Chicago Tribune, 6 Feb. 2026
The footage showed Vance smiling and waving to the crowd from his box seat as the jeers continued.
—Lauren Huff, Entertainment Weekly, 6 Feb. 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
Carlile put her emphatic phrasing into the patriotic hymn, elongating notes and smiling at herself after a slight vocal squeak at the end.
—Melissa Ruggieri, USA Today, 8 Feb. 2026
Jones hasn't made any political statements, but was happy to film herself smiling with then-VP Kamala Harris during the Biden administration.
—Kathleen Walsh, Glamour, 8 Feb. 2026
Volkswagen’s The Force, 2011 Just try to resist smiling while watching this adorable Volkswagen commercial, which combines youthful ambition and some loving sleight of hand.
—Vogue, 8 Feb. 2026
At the 60-second mark is a quick scene of two primates with the Obamas' smiling faces imposed on them.
—Bill Barrow, Arkansas Online, 7 Feb. 2026
At the 60-second mark is a quick scene of two jungle primates, with the Obamas’ smiling faces imposed on them.
—Bill Barrow, Fortune, 7 Feb. 2026
The toy is available in both the frowning, and the original smiling version, and many people have taken to buying them as a pair.
—Emma Li, CBS News, 6 Feb. 2026
At the 60-second mark is a quick scene of two primates, with the Obamas’ smiling faces imposed on them.
—Josh Boak, Chicago Tribune, 6 Feb. 2026
The footage showed Vance smiling and waving to the crowd from his box seat as the jeers continued.
—Lauren Huff, Entertainment Weekly, 6 Feb. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for smiling
Noun
-
In a video shared with CBS News Chicago by an immigration rapid response group, Bovino can be seen on the sidewalk standing with a group of Border Patrol agents, talking and laughing.—
Sabrina Franza,
CBS News,
16 Dec. 2025
-
Harbour and Brown arrived together on the red carpet for the premiere of the latest season and were captured on camera laughing, hugging each other and posing for photos.—
Kimberlee Speakman,
PEOPLE,
7 Nov. 2025
Verb
-
Barack and Michelle Obama were depicted as grinning, dancing apes.—
Todd Spangler,
Variety,
6 Feb. 2026
-
One of the defining images of this Super Bowl run for Patriots fans will be a bloodied Vrabel, grinning after a celebratory headbutt from Milton Williams after a fourth-down sack that sealed a wild-card win over the Los Angeles Chargers.—
Kyle Feldscher,
CNN Money,
5 Feb. 2026
Adjective
-
Simbi Khali played Nina Campbell, the sharp-witted assistant who often reacted to the Solomons’ antics with amused disbelief.—
Tereza Shkurtaj,
PEOPLE,
31 Jan. 2026
-
And there’s Faithfull, watching her past paraded before her with an amused smile and a sense of high irony still intact.—
David Fear,
Rolling Stone,
26 Jan. 2026
Adjective
-
Since starting at the newspaper, Eaton has used his jovial spirit and thoughtful reporting skills to connect with people in the Harambee neighborhood on Milwaukee's north side.—
Kynala Phillips,
jsonline.com,
13 Feb. 2026
-
That said, Mike presents as an uplifting, jovial kind of guy.—
Rafaela Bassili,
Vulture,
3 Feb. 2026
Adjective
-
Amaryllis flowers and winter greenery make for a merry arrangement.—
Miranda Crowell,
Better Homes & Gardens,
11 Feb. 2026
-
Which means if there’s more than two inches of snow on the ground, a merry band of Aurora volunteers spread out across neighborhoods to help seniors clear their sidewalks, stoops and driveways.—
Denise Crosby,
Chicago Tribune,
30 Jan. 2026
Adjective
-
The gleeful visuals and sounds, however, are what really propel the movie along.—
David Sims,
The Atlantic,
9 Feb. 2026
-
The new Wade is an endlessly wisecracking chatterbox, shattering the fourth wall with gleeful abandon.—
Kevin Jacobsen,
Entertainment Weekly,
7 Feb. 2026
Adjective
-
While his jolly personality won him many friends at the top of the pyramid, his flock of ordinary Catholics saw only his other side.—
Voice of the People,
New York Daily News,
3 Feb. 2026
-
The surviving kids begin to suspect something is up, but their attempts to appeal to this world’s sad excuses for adult supervision — a jolly mailman, a blank-faced nurse, and a talking train — just lead to more murders.—
Christian Zilko,
IndieWire,
23 Jan. 2026
Adjective
-
Even the prettiest and most cheerful landscapes and still lifes, such as Belly Flowers and Sonny Hart’s Garden, use this contrast to create tension.—
Benjamin Lima
Special Contributor,
Dallas Morning News,
7 Feb. 2026
-
Just off the kitchen is a cheerful breakfast nook topped with skylights, inviting you to linger on weekend mornings.—
Miriam Schwartz,
Boston Herald,
6 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Smiling.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/smiling. Accessed 14 Feb. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
