1
as in grimacing
to distort one's face
every time their picture was snapped, both children mugged by sticking out their tongues or scrunching up their faces
Synonyms & Similar Words
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2
as in photographing
to take a photograph of
mugging captured criminals for the police records
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of mugging
Jesse Whittock, Deadline, 9 Oct. 2025
The mugging of his early selfies has vanished.
—David Kamp, New Yorker, 4 Oct. 2025
This lawyer-mugging could go without any response today.
—U T Readers, San Diego Union-Tribune, 29 Aug. 2025
Rodney Carmichael, NPR, 1 Oct. 2025
No amount of mugging before the cameras in Tianjin could mask the comedown this represents.
—Bobby Ghosh, Time, 2 Sep. 2025
Smith also appeared in several of the duo’s music videos, which teased his future SNL face-mugging persona.
—Devon Ivie, Vulture, 27 Aug. 2025
Curtis, who worked for years to get a sequel green-lit, is clearly having the time of her life, mugging for the camera as inner-fashionista Lily, sporting a speech-inhibiting lip plumper, and taking a joy ride in a Camaro.
—Maureen Lee Lenker Published, EW.com, 5 Aug. 2025
Verb
Staged to look like a random mugging of a courier, the robbery was, in fact, a sophisticated heist that would ultimately involve the Provisional IRA, the New York mafia and the Colombian cartel.
—Jesse Whittock, Deadline, 9 Oct. 2025
The mugging of his early selfies has vanished.
—David Kamp, New Yorker, 4 Oct. 2025
This lawyer-mugging could go without any response today.
—U T Readers, San Diego Union-Tribune, 29 Aug. 2025
Noun
Has Trump seen the album cover of To Pimp A Butterfly with Kendrick Lamar and his shirtless homies mean mugging on the White House lawn while a dead judge lies at their feet?
—Rodney Carmichael, NPR, 1 Oct. 2025
No amount of mugging before the cameras in Tianjin could mask the comedown this represents.
—Bobby Ghosh, Time, 2 Sep. 2025
Smith also appeared in several of the duo’s music videos, which teased his future SNL face-mugging persona.
—Devon Ivie, Vulture, 27 Aug. 2025
Curtis, who worked for years to get a sequel green-lit, is clearly having the time of her life, mugging for the camera as inner-fashionista Lily, sporting a speech-inhibiting lip plumper, and taking a joy ride in a Camaro.
—Maureen Lee Lenker Published, EW.com, 5 Aug. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for mugging
Verb
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Wentz was noticeably grimacing throughout the majority of the game.—
Chantz Martin,
FOXNews.com,
24 Oct. 2025
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After taking a fastball on the knee in the fifth game of the series, outfield veteran George Springer returned to the starting lineup on Sunday and was noticeably limping and grimacing during his at-bats.—
Peter Chawaga,
MSNBC Newsweek,
20 Oct. 2025
Verb
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The lens covers a similar angle of view to a full-frame system with a 100-400mm zoom, a range that's ideal for photographing wildlife, field sports, and other far-off subjects.—
PC Magazine,
PC Magazine,
16 Oct. 2025
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By the time he was brought in, Assouline and Nike had already begun compiling and photographing some of the numerous mementos from the life and career of Jordan that serve as the backbone of the book, many of which have never been seen.—
Ian Servantes,
Footwear News,
16 Oct. 2025
Noun
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There were no injuries as a result of the burglary, according to Pix 11 News.—
Madison E. Goldberg,
PEOPLE,
29 Oct. 2025
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He was sentenced to 17 years for armed kidnapping and 17 years for armed burglary with assault or battery.—
Grethel Aguila,
Miami Herald,
28 Oct. 2025
Verb
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Behind the glass doors of an unassuming building in Manhattan, staring across a shuttered print shop, a shadowy world stirred, coming alive with the flick of cards, the muted clink of glasses and the quiet hum of a dangerous secret.—
Alaa Elassar,
CNN Money,
27 Oct. 2025
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Sean Monahan, Voronkov and others came up empty on point-blank opportunities that left them staring into the rafters or yelling at the ice in frustration.—
Aaron Portzline,
New York Times,
25 Oct. 2025
Noun
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Martin died last weekend at age 36 while in police custody in Oakland after a home break-in.—
Jim Keyser,
Idaho Statesman,
25 Oct. 2025
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Cassidy Manetta, the marketing manager for the theater, told reporters in a press release Friday that the break-in is projected to cost the theater over $250,000.—
Caroline Zimmerman,
Kansas City Star,
24 Oct. 2025
Noun
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One potential holdup to the potential blockbuster deal is the salary-cap implications.—
MSNBC Newsweek,
MSNBC Newsweek,
22 Oct. 2025
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Another holdup was that the county needed to deliver a certain amount of trash to the landfills to meet their contract obligations.—
Ashley Miznazi,
Miami Herald,
16 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Mugging.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/mugging. Accessed 30 Oct. 2025.
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