1
as in to grin
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
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in to laugh
to express scornful amusement by means of facial contortions
smiled at their ridiculous antics and walked away in disgust
Synonyms & Similar Words
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of smile
Lucy Notarantonio, MSNBC Newsweek, 12 July 2025
Out comes another moan, this one closer to a laugh as Brandon’s face flashes a smile.
—Scott Craven, AZCentral.com, 10 July 2025
Miranda Jeyaretnam, Time, 14 July 2025
The weather was sublime, the food was tasty, Mummy was smiling.
—Stephanie Nolasco , Ashley Papa, FOXNews.com, 13 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for smile
Verb
Her illness has left her with irreparable dental damage—forcing her to spend thousands of dollars to restore her smile, a painful and permanent reminder of her eating disorder.
—Lucy Notarantonio, MSNBC Newsweek, 12 July 2025
Out comes another moan, this one closer to a laugh as Brandon’s face flashes a smile.
—Scott Craven, AZCentral.com, 10 July 2025
Noun
Advertisement Advertisement Cole Palmer looked perplexed and frustrated as Donald Trump stood in front of him, smiling and clapping, even as FIFA President Gianni Infantino could be seen unsuccessfully urging the U.S. President to move aside so as not to obstruct the team’s celebrations.
—Miranda Jeyaretnam, Time, 14 July 2025
The weather was sublime, the food was tasty, Mummy was smiling.
—Stephanie Nolasco , Ashley Papa, FOXNews.com, 13 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for smile
Recent Examples of Synonyms for smile
Verb
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One of them made eye contact with me, grinned, and winked.—
Sloane Crosley,
Travel + Leisure,
15 July 2025
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In the first test, Retton grinned while failing to properly track the officer’s finger without moving her head.—
Caroline Price,
Forbes.com,
9 July 2025
Verb
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Asked by a reporter this week to describe the journey of her tennis career, Amanda Anisimova paused, then laughed.—
Becky Sullivan,
NPR,
11 July 2025
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The boy, too young to grasp the danger, was playing and laughing; a fleeting moment of innocence, juxtaposed against the backdrop of war.—
Andy Meek,
Forbes.com,
11 July 2025
Noun
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The Plague is exquisitely cast, from the Nickelodeon star smirk of ringleader Jake (Kayo Martin) to his cohen target Eli (Kenny Rasmussen), a genuine oddball.—
Alison Willmore,
Vulture,
27 May 2025
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But watching a group of roughnecks on a rig in grubby overalls moving huge, long steel pipes, Dugan's smile begins to fade to a smirk.—
Kirk Siegler,
NPR,
24 Apr. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Smile.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/smile. Accessed 21 Jul. 2025.
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