guffaw 1 of 2

noun

(ˌ)gə-ˈfȯ How to pronounce guffaw (audio)
Definition of guffawnext
as in chuckle
an explosive sound that is a sign of amusement managed to keep a straight face for a minute before he let loose with a loud guffaw

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

guffaw

2 of 2

verb

as in to chuckle

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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 guffaw
Noun
But both episodes so far have gotten a few killer guffaws out of me. — Andy Andersen, Vulture, 9 Mar. 2026 So, after the sombrero drew hearty guffaws, my friend Jim busied himself finding monuments to chip-and-dip tastelessness. — Lee Michael Katz, USA Today, 20 Dec. 2025
Verb
Tykes get slapped around, shot with arrows and dangled in traffic — tortures that are played seriously, but the shock of them allows you to guffaw. — Amy Nicholson, Los Angeles Times, 11 June 2026 See All Example Sentences for guffaw
Recent Examples of Synonyms for guffaw
  1. chuckle
  2. giggle
  3. laughter
  4. laugh
  5. snicker
Noun
  • So Sydanmaa looks back on his first-ever varsity play with a chuckle.
    — Steve Reaven, Chicago Tribune, 18 Aug. 2026
  • Brian Leonard’s smartly funny ode to his difficult daughter — a child whose behavior was so problematic, the family cycled through 28 therapists — offers plenty of chuckles, even with key questions left unanswered.
    — Frederick Melo, Twin Cities, 10 Aug. 2026
Definition of chuckle
Verb
  • The quarterback, 30, could be seen smiling as Bronze giggled and Golden looked directly at the camera.
    — Kirsty Hatcher, PEOPLE, 18 Aug. 2026
  • Include a Joke Include a joke that makes your kid giggle at the lunch table.
    — Sarah Scott, Parents, 8 Aug. 2026
Definition of giggle
Noun
  • Nolan Wells should have turned 19 surrounded by a birthday cake, candles and laughter.
    — Alisha Ebrahimji, CNN Money, 19 Aug. 2026
  • Wishing you both a lifetime of love, laughter, and endless adventures!
    — Ashlyn Robinette, PEOPLE, 19 Aug. 2026
Definition of laughter
Verb
  • After the game, the family reconvened on the field for pictures, laughing over the strange coincidence, or not, of it all.
    — Devon Henderson, New York Times, 21 Aug. 2026
  • Faris recalls, laughing, at the film’s world premiere at the Fontainebleau Las Vegas.
    — Erin Jensen, USA Today, 20 Aug. 2026
Definition of laugh
Noun
  • As executed, the 2019 show is an emotional yet refreshingly unsentimental black comedy that snickers in the face of empowerment buzzwords like, well, healing journey.
    — Judy Berman, Time, 11 Aug. 2026
  • Classic cookies come in 11 flavors like chocolate chip, oatmeal raisin, peanut butter, snicker doodle, white chocolate macadamia nut, fruity pebbles, monster and white chocolate cranberry.
    — Ella Gonzales, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 29 July 2026
Definition of snicker

Browse Nearby Words

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guffaw
guffawed
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Cite this Entry

“Guffaw.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/guffaw. Accessed 26 Aug. 2026.

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