as in laughter
an explosive sound that is a sign of amusement
humorous anecdotes that are likely to evoke lots of smiles but few belly laughs
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Examples 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 belly laugh
Nothing was off-limits in Mad, a newsstand stalwart that would reach peak annual sales in the 1970s of 2.5 million issues by delivering belly laughs and self-satisfaction to America’s class clowns through cartoons, parodies, sarcastic characters and an unending stream of gross-out gags.
—
Patrick Sauer, Smithsonian Magazine, 17 Sep. 2024
Just try your best to separate big belly laughs from bites of food, and save the call to mom for when you’re entirely finished eating.
—Julia Sullivan, SELF, 9 July 2024
Harris asks, surrendering to one of her famous belly laughs.
—Jessica Winter, The New Yorker, 5 July 2024
Every embrace at a funeral, belly laugh on Thanksgiving Eve, hand on my waist and kiss on the cheek.
—Clare French, Hartford Courant, 16 Mar. 2024
See all Example Sentences for belly laugh 
Patrick Sauer, Smithsonian Magazine, 17 Sep. 2024
Just try your best to separate big belly laughs from bites of food, and save the call to mom for when you’re entirely finished eating.
—Julia Sullivan, SELF, 9 July 2024
Harris asks, surrendering to one of her famous belly laughs.
—Jessica Winter, The New Yorker, 5 July 2024
Every embrace at a funeral, belly laugh on Thanksgiving Eve, hand on my waist and kiss on the cheek.
—Clare French, Hartford Courant, 16 Mar. 2024
See all Example Sentences for belly laugh
Recent Examples of Synonyms for belly laugh
Noun
-
But as Sharpe went on to explain, the laughter that was coming from his Southwestern teammates that day ceased immediately after he was given an opportunity to perform on the practice field.Scott Talley, Detroit Free Press, 22 Dec. 2024
-
If there's laughter in the moment, take another beat.Sari Hitchins, Parents, 19 Dec. 2024
Noun
-
James Martinez and Alex Shimizu take on the Batista and Masuka roles in the prequel, bringing back their signature fedora and giggle, respectively.Jackie Strause, The Hollywood Reporter, 23 Dec. 2024
-
Ekuban told me the story with a giggle, as if nothing had happened.Caleb Gayle, The Atlantic, 17 Dec. 2024
Noun
-
Cukor provides her with every leeway to make her slinky walk, squeaky voice and astonishing malapropisms count for every possible laugh.THR Staff, The Hollywood Reporter, 25 Dec. 2024
-
For more holiday laughs, check out Saturday night’s Sábado Gigante Christmas Special sketch, and for a musical fix, don’t miss Hozier’s performance.Ashley Iasimone, Billboard, 22 Dec. 2024
Noun
-
There are private snickers about the offense’s lack of imagination, the team’s absence of leadership and the dearth of talent.Pat Leonard, New York Daily News, 22 Dec. 2024
-
Could anyone utter these lofty words today without courting a chorus of snickers, a social-media immolation?George Packer, The Atlantic, 5 Nov. 2024
Thesaurus Entries Near belly laugh
Cite this Entry
“Belly laugh.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/belly%20laugh. Accessed 3 Jan. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share