as in laughing
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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
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Recent Examples of smiling
Rania Abouzeid,
New Yorker,
21 May 2026
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
Niranjana Rajalakshmi,
Popular Science,
14 May 2026
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
Madeleine Marr,
Miami Herald,
30 June 2026
From 1941 to 1976, New Yorkers riding the subway might have seen Maureen Walsh, Ellen Hart, or Heide Hafner smiling back at them on their commute as part of the Miss Subways campaign.
—
Noelle Lilley,
CBS News,
30 June 2026
Foti eagerly wants to reveal more of the company’s plans, but holds back, smiling.
—
Laura Sirikul,
Forbes.com,
30 June 2026
The slideshow features two images of Biancardi smiling and posing with her thumbs-up at a party.
—
Emily Weaver,
PEOPLE,
29 June 2026
The girl blew out candles on her Peppa Pig birthday cake, smiling.
—
Saleen Martin,
USA Today,
26 June 2026
Another was photo showed Alzubi smiling at the Fort Worth Stock Yards during a visit from her family.
—
Kamal Morgan,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
23 June 2026
Across over a dozen photos, James is seen hoisting his daughter up on his shoulders, enjoying the family ranch with his son, embracing his young kids, and smiling alongside his wife.
—
Shania Russell,
Entertainment Weekly,
21 June 2026
Adjective
Women in black hijabs and abayas, many wearing badges depicting Zahra’s smiling face, lined the streets as men prayed over her casket, placed outside the Husseiniya, a Shiite hall.
—
Rania Abouzeid,
New Yorker,
21 May 2026
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
Karen Jesch, a PhD student at Boston College’s Canine Cognition Center, points out that human smiling is a strange behavior to begin with, and not always a happy one.
—
Niranjana Rajalakshmi,
Popular Science,
14 May 2026
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
Waving and smiling, Aveiro, accompanied by a burly gentleman, takes a seat at a table bedecked with a bouquet of roses, ready to tuck into some cuisine from her native country.
—
Madeleine Marr,
Miami Herald,
30 June 2026
From 1941 to 1976, New Yorkers riding the subway might have seen Maureen Walsh, Ellen Hart, or Heide Hafner smiling back at them on their commute as part of the Miss Subways campaign.
—
Noelle Lilley,
CBS News,
30 June 2026
Foti eagerly wants to reveal more of the company’s plans, but holds back, smiling.
—
Laura Sirikul,
Forbes.com,
30 June 2026
The slideshow features two images of Biancardi smiling and posing with her thumbs-up at a party.
—
Emily Weaver,
PEOPLE,
29 June 2026
The girl blew out candles on her Peppa Pig birthday cake, smiling.
—
Saleen Martin,
USA Today,
26 June 2026
Another was photo showed Alzubi smiling at the Fort Worth Stock Yards during a visit from her family.
—
Kamal Morgan,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
23 June 2026
Across over a dozen photos, James is seen hoisting his daughter up on his shoulders, enjoying the family ranch with his son, embracing his young kids, and smiling alongside his wife.
—
Shania Russell,
Entertainment Weekly,
21 June 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for smiling
Adjective
-
Hardin is more amused than annoyed, particularly given the origin of the FTD Burger.
-
The Levi’s logo, loosely shaped like a jeans pant pocket, was shrouded in a white covering — but the move counterintuitively generated buzz for the company on social media from amused fans.
Noun
-
A lot of shouting, a lot of laughing, a lot of talk.
-
Keith moved into the center of the balcony, posing and laughing.
Verb
-
The images are of snow-heavy trees, a chairlift overhead, and Kerstin grinning with ski goggles lifted.
-
Video captured during Kitty and Amaya's arrests shows both women grinning as law enforcement places them in their police vehicles.
Adjective
-
The men, both in formal suits, appear jovial despite their opposing political views, with smiles spreading on their faces.
-
Jeremy is observant, jovial, and finds the Sinclairs’ world fascinating.
Adjective
-
Some may argue that the more the merrier applies as much to advocacy for social justice as to anything else.
-
When former President Barack Obama addressed the massive, merry crowd at the Obama Presidential Center dedication ceremony on June 18, a few lines landed like a balm.
Adjective
-
For the sheer gleeful joy with which its participants abuse themselves and each other.
-
Many competitors on Wall Street were thus gleeful when Citadel’s main fund fell by fifty-five per cent during the 2008 global financial crisis.
Adjective
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The problem was that plenty of officials from both the government and national association wanted in on the glory, piggy-backing on the team for a jolly trip to the World Cup.
-
The Tar Heels went three-up, three-down in the sixth, but the next inning Gallaher and his teammates were having a jolly time on a clear and cool evening at Charles Schwab Field.
Adjective
-
With both extended families gathered at Athen’s Piraeus harbour, we where given a tearful goodbye with hearftfelt prayers and cheerful optimisum to begin our American journey.
-
Spend some time at a local pond or lake and greet these pretty waterfowl, observing their colorful markings and cheerful chatter.
Cite this Entry
“Smiling.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/smiling. Accessed 5 Jul. 2026.
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