giggling 1 of 2

adjective

as in smiling

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giggling

2 of 2

verb

present participle of giggle
as in laughing
to show mirth with an explosive vocal sound some audience members thought that they were being clever by giggling during the serious scenes

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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 giggling
Verb
This approach worked for Jean Nelson of Pasadena, California, after her 2-year-old son, Luke, took delight in dragging toilet paper down the hall, giggling as the roll unfurled behind him. — Cynthia Hanson, Parents, 13 Sep. 2026 In the video, Hilton’s 3-year-old son Phoenix can be seen giggling as the puppy playfully chases him around the room while 2-year-old sister London looks on. — Catherine Santino, PEOPLE, 1 Sep. 2026 Everyone is giggling about his vocabulary, but they’re still charmed. — Selome Hailu, Variety, 4 Aug. 2026 On a recent afternoon outside the temple in central Kerala, Raman stood motionless as two children played, giggling and hugging its trunk. — ABC News, 3 July 2026 The two brothers were spotted giggling during a ceremonial carriage ride. — Rachel Burchfield, InStyle, 12 June 2026 After the second ace, Williams was giggling, seemingly in disbelief, at how quickly things had come together in her first match back. — Charlie Eccleshare, New York Times, 10 June 2026 Flashlight tag is an oldie but goodie and will have parents giggling like schoolgirls along with their kids. — Orlando Sentinel Staff, The Orlando Sentinel, 24 May 2026 Total strangers giggling about his addiction to drugs. — Brianna Zigler, Entertainment Weekly, 23 May 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for giggling
  1. smiling
  2. laughing
  3. amused
  4. chuckling
  5. gleeful
  6. screaming
  7. mirthful
  8. merry
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
Definition of smiling
Verb
  • Just being out on the water with a good friend, laughing and trading stories is what makes a fishing trip special.
    — Austin Perry OutKick, FOXNews.com, 6 Oct. 2026
  • Prosecutors said that the incidents were captured on camera — and that the parents could be seen laughing at times as their children were forcefully disciplined.
    — James Queally, Los Angeles Times, 6 Oct. 2026
Definition of laughing
Adjective
  • But laughter was also a way of maintaining some distance from what was happening, remaining the amused observer rather than the person to whom this was actually happening.
    — Seth Abramovitch, HollywoodReporter, 5 Oct. 2026
  • Perhaps most telling of all, Stone cuts the character of Carlotta, a governess born to circus performers who wanders through the play like a lost clown, origin-less, amused, and sad.
    — Sara Holdren, Vulture, 18 Sep. 2026
Definition of amused
Verb
  • The Tío Xavier persona that Becerra supporters have trotted out — a kind, chuckling sage — isn’t what California needs right now.
    — Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 1 Oct. 2026
  • Cubs pitcher David Peterson was coming out of the bullpen to pitch in the eighth inning after the fight took place, and the umpires were chuckling.
    — Paul Sullivan, Chicago Tribune, 19 Aug. 2026
Definition of chuckling
Adjective
  • Jocelyn Bioh’s School Girls; Or, the African Mean Girls Play isn’t a musical, but about two-thirds of the way through, there’s a sing-off that’s both a gleeful showstopper and a wry metatheatrical treat.
    — Sara Holdren, Vulture, 29 Sep. 2026
  • But the stage that Springer cultivated was a gleeful one, a tacky spectacle of shock and depravity, an ungodly home for the freaks who knew just what to do when the lights came on.
    — Brady Brickner-Wood, New Yorker, 28 Sep. 2026
Definition of gleeful
Verb
  • In reviewing the body camera footage, police found that the child was standing on the stairwell at one point and was screaming while holding her left arm up in the air, according to the warrant affidavit.
    — Justin Muszynski, Hartford Courant, 4 Oct. 2026
  • Mahomes’ emotion seemed to bubble over in the second quarter, with CBS cameras catching the quarterback screaming at offensive coordinator Eric Bieniemy.
    — Kansas City Star, Kansas City Star, 4 Oct. 2026
Definition of screaming
Adjective
  • Her Calla Lily sconces show her mirthful approach, also embodied in her towering egg and pear lamps.
    — Julia Harrison, Architectural Digest, 30 Sep. 2026
  • Haim managed to put on a show that felt about 95% mirthful while still honoring the integrity of the new songs that dig emotionally deeper.
    — Chris Willman, Variety, 14 Oct. 2025
Definition of mirthful
Adjective
  • The friendly staff, who wear black uniforms with lettering that identifies their duties add to the hotel’s merry atmosphere.
    — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 30 Sep. 2026
  • This is a place where adults make the pilgrimage to the legendary Pinto Ron and Pizza Pete tailgate spot in the Hammer Lot where Pinto Ron's team of merry pranksters pour shots of liquor into a bowling ball finger hole.
    — Joe Kinsey OutKick, FOXNews.com, 18 Sep. 2026
Definition of merry

Browse Nearby Words

giggles
giggling
gigglingly
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Cite this Entry

“Giggling.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/giggling. Accessed 10 Oct. 2026.

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