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
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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
as in laughing
Related Words
Dissimilar Words
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of smiling
Sudiksha Kochi, USA Today, 10 Sep. 2025
Curtis was spotted smiling and standing along the side of the red carpet in casual all-black attire that included a sweater and casual black slacks.
—Julia Moore, PEOPLE, 10 Sep. 2025
Instead, attractive, wholesome-looking young women stood behind the glowing counters, smiling and offering to serve.
—Marla Jo Fisher, Oc Register, 10 Sep. 2025
Upon entrance, smiling faces and high-energy conversations were flowing.
—Robyn Mowatt, Essence, 10 Sep. 2025
The finale ends with Daniel smiling in the kitchen while Cherry, who is pregnant, and his father are outside in the yard yucking it up.
—Olivia B. Waxman, Time, 10 Sep. 2025
Kash Doll also shared her own tribute, posting a picture of Smith smiling behind a custom birthday cake styled after his jersey number.
—Preezy Brown, VIBE.com, 9 Sep. 2025
As North Korean leader Kim Jong Un stepped off his armored green train in Beijing on Tuesday, greeted by Chinese officials shaking his hand and leading him down a red carpet, many observers noticed a young girl walking behind him, smiling politely, dressed in black with her hair tied in a bow.
—Jessie Yeung, CNN Money, 3 Sep. 2025
Somewhere David Ricardo is smiling.
—John Tamny, Forbes.com, 2 Sep. 2025
Noun
Trump stood in front of the protesters, smiling for a bit, before signaling security to escort the activists out of the restaurant.
—Sudiksha Kochi, USA Today, 10 Sep. 2025
Curtis was spotted smiling and standing along the side of the red carpet in casual all-black attire that included a sweater and casual black slacks.
—Julia Moore, PEOPLE, 10 Sep. 2025
Instead, attractive, wholesome-looking young women stood behind the glowing counters, smiling and offering to serve.
—Marla Jo Fisher, Oc Register, 10 Sep. 2025
Upon entrance, smiling faces and high-energy conversations were flowing.
—Robyn Mowatt, Essence, 10 Sep. 2025
The finale ends with Daniel smiling in the kitchen while Cherry, who is pregnant, and his father are outside in the yard yucking it up.
—Olivia B. Waxman, Time, 10 Sep. 2025
Kash Doll also shared her own tribute, posting a picture of Smith smiling behind a custom birthday cake styled after his jersey number.
—Preezy Brown, VIBE.com, 9 Sep. 2025
As North Korean leader Kim Jong Un stepped off his armored green train in Beijing on Tuesday, greeted by Chinese officials shaking his hand and leading him down a red carpet, many observers noticed a young girl walking behind him, smiling politely, dressed in black with her hair tied in a bow.
—Jessie Yeung, CNN Money, 3 Sep. 2025
Somewhere David Ricardo is smiling.
—John Tamny, Forbes.com, 2 Sep. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for smiling
Verb
-
Word, Cali said, still grinning.—
Bryan Washington,
New Yorker,
7 Sep. 2025
-
The small, grinning Labubu plush dolls have exploded in popularity over the summer, with their limited supply, celebrity endorsements and collectible nature driving up bidding prices online.—
J. Kim Murphy,
Variety,
2 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
Xi was also pictured laughing with Putin and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi in China.—
Yeo Boon Ping,
CNBC,
11 Sep. 2025
-
One of the producers actually fell off his chair laughing.—
Victoria Edel,
PEOPLE,
10 Sep. 2025
Adjective
-
The Tour pro Tommy Fleetwood, meanwhile, seemed more amused than upset.—
Devlina Sarkar,
MSNBC Newsweek,
29 Aug. 2025
-
Lanthimos and cinematographer Robbie Ryan stage and shoot said home invasion like a Jacques Tati sequence — that is to say, from an amused, ironic distance that watches humans squirm and scramble without intervention.—
Ryan Lattanzio,
IndieWire,
28 Aug. 2025
Adjective
-
McAvoy turned to old friend James Corden, who rocks up as a jovial beatboxing music exec initially sceptical of Silibil N’ Brains’ real roots.—
Alex Ritman,
Variety,
5 Sep. 2025
-
For a French superstar chef whose eponymous NYC restaurant has received two Michelin stars, Daniel Boulud’s demeanor is unexpectedly laid-back and jovial.—
Brittany Loggins,
Bon Appetit Magazine,
3 Sep. 2025
Adjective
-
In Don’t Get High, an alpha dork and her merry gang of dweebs start an anti-drug group at their high school to make friends and influence people.—
Denise Petski,
Deadline,
12 Sep. 2025
-
From a massive 9-foot fir to a charming 3-foot tabletop tree, score up to 58% off a one-time buy that’ll last for years of merry memories.—
Mariana Best,
Better Homes & Gardens,
25 Aug. 2025
Adjective
-
There is certainly a layer of ick that pervades this often gleeful depiction of the 1989 murder of Jose and Kitty Menendez by their sons, Lyle and Erik, and the media circus that followed.—
Joe Reid,
Vulture,
23 Aug. 2025
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What follows is a gleeful parade, perfect for viewers who always wanted to meet the high school star crush whose posters adorned their bedroom walls.—
Michelle Kung,
EW.com,
18 Aug. 2025
Adjective
-
Instead of its usual jolly cartoons, the channel began broadcasting footage of Russian military parades accompanied by music of the Russian nationalist singer Oleg Gazmanov.—
Tereza Pultarova,
Space.com,
7 Apr. 2025
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The same jolly collection also returns to the Top Streaming Albums chart for another year.—
Hugh McIntyre,
Forbes,
4 Jan. 2025
Adjective
-
The YouTuber greets everyone — fan on the street, friend, foe, sitting Congressmen, and unsuspecting Rolling Stone staffer — the same, with a cheerful smile and an already rolling camera crew.—
CT Jones,
Rolling Stone,
5 Sep. 2025
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The pet supplement space is crowded with options, many of which have cheerful packaging and confident claims, yet little transparency about efficacy.—
Lyssanoel Frater,
USA Today,
3 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Smiling.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/smiling. Accessed 14 Sep. 2025.
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