smiling 1 of 3

adjective

Definition of smilingnext
as in laughing

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

smiling

2 of 3

noun

as in cheering

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

smiling

3 of 3

verb

present participle of smile
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

Examples Sentences

Recent Examples of Synonyms for smiling
  1. laughing
  2. amused
  3. jovial
  4. merry
  5. gleeful
  6. jolly
  7. cheerful
  8. cheery
Verb
  • The moment a golden retriever expressed fear in the face of a Christmas decoration has left social media users laughing and sympathizing in equal measure.
    Josh Hammer, Newsweek, 23 Dec. 2024
  • After the audience, Jost and Che all stopped laughing, Jost read the final lines.
    Adam B. Vary, Variety, 22 Dec. 2024
Definition of laughing
Adjective
  • Perhaps the class war is close) and to Colin Jost’s amused disbelief at the cheering.
    Rima Parikh, Vulture, 22 Dec. 2024
  • The 11-second video has garnered more than 473,000 views and 76,000 likes since it was shared to TikTok on December 15, leading to plenty of amused takes in the comments section.
    Dan Perry, Newsweek, 17 Dec. 2024
Definition of amused
Adjective
  • The American Kennel Club (AKC) highlights their jovial and friendly nature, which is a hallmark of the breed.
    Daniel R. Depetris, Newsweek, 13 Dec. 2024
  • The video shows a jovial Trump beating a dinner table and then playfully patting Musk on the back.
    Michael Dorgan, Fox News, 30 Nov. 2024
Definition of jovial
Adjective
  • In another shot, the two wish a merry Christmas to the camera.
    Jami Ganz, New York Daily News, 26 Dec. 2024
  • Ensure your celebrations stay merry and bright by stocking up on your favorite beverages before the holiday arrives.
    Brandi D. Addison, Austin American-Statesman, 24 Dec. 2024
Definition of merry
Adjective
  • But that would’ve meant nothing without the gleeful vocal power of the Crystals, who gifted major-key energy to a previously sleepy track.
    Justin Curto, Vulture, 24 Dec. 2024
  • With a lineup packed full of famous country singers and entertainers, the event looks a lot different from its original gleeful march.
    Angele Latham, The Tennessean, 18 Dec. 2024
Definition of gleeful
Adjective
  • The shiny, vinyl-like fabric gave the look a modern, sporty edge, tying it back to the game-day setting. Mahomes and Kelce paired the festive jolly coats with their red and white Chiefs uniforms, blending seamlessly with the football team’s signature colors.
    Ty Gaskins, WWD, 26 Dec. 2024
  • As the jolliest day of the year inches closer, the sibling group breaks into the top 10 on a handful of tallies, as both their singles and at least one album are on the rise.
    Hugh McIntyre, Forbes, 23 Dec. 2024
Definition of jolly
Adjective
  • There’s also all-day dining in its cheerful El Hall bistro and bar.
    John Oseid, Forbes, 23 Dec. 2024
  • Winter Nights & River Lights (Nov. 22-Jan. 5) This Ohio River pedestrian bridge is bedecked in cheerful twinkling lights for the holidays.
    Jordan Kellogg, The Enquirer, 21 Dec. 2024
Definition of cheerful
Adjective
  • Rath suggests choosing motifs and cheery hues that speak to you as a starting point.
    Shivani Vyas, Better Homes & Gardens, 18 Dec. 2024
  • This classic ensemble rom-com masterfully strings together a gamut of love stories — from the fairy-tale-esque to the utterly tear-jerking — all during the cheery buildup to Christmas.
    James Mercadante, EW.com, 17 Dec. 2024
Definition of cheery
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.

Thesaurus Entries Near smiling

smiles

smiling

smilingly

See More Nearby Entries 

Cite this Entry

“Smiling.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/smiling. Accessed 31 Dec. 2024.

Copy Citation

Share

More from Merriam-Webster on smiling

Nglish: Translation of smiling for Spanish Speakers

Britannica English: Translation of smiling for Arabic Speakers

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See All

Point of View: It's Personal

Plural and Possessive Names: A Guide

What's the difference between 'fascism' and 'socialism'?

More Commonly Misspelled Words

Words You Always Have to Look Up
See All

Popular in Wordplay

See All

8 Words with Fascinating Histories

8 Words for Lesser-Known Musical Instruments

Birds Say the Darndest Things

10 Words from Taylor Swift Songs (Merriam's Version)

10 Scrabble Words Without Any Vowels
See All

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Word Game Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
naughty or nice
Are you naughty or nice? Quiz He's making a quiz, and checking it twice...