as in chuckle
an explosive sound that is a sign of amusement
the joke provoked a sudden chortle from a bystander
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in to laugh
to show mirth with an explosive vocal sound
audiences might chortle gently during the movie's amusing bits, but there are few knee-slappers
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Examples Sentences
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Recent Examples of chortle
Yudhijit Bhattacharjee, Discover Magazine, 17 July 2011
When the book said that someone laughed, Miles offered the engineer a giggle, a chortle, and a cackle; when a character steepled their fingers, Miles did, too.
—Daniel A. Gross, The New Yorker, 16 Dec. 2022
Joann C Gutin, Discover Magazine, 11 Nov. 2019
Some people were chortling over something a Fox reporter did the other day.
—Jay Nordlinger, National Review, 8 Dec. 2023
See all Example Sentences for chortle 
Noun
The comment evoked a chortle from Prasher, whose typical manner combines irony and earthiness.
—Yudhijit Bhattacharjee, Discover Magazine, 17 July 2011
When the book said that someone laughed, Miles offered the engineer a giggle, a chortle, and a cackle; when a character steepled their fingers, Miles did, too.
—Daniel A. Gross, The New Yorker, 16 Dec. 2022
Verb
In one careful hour that guy pulled the rug out from everything the Eve hypothesis people ever said, chortles Wolpoff.
—Joann C Gutin, Discover Magazine, 11 Nov. 2019
Some people were chortling over something a Fox reporter did the other day.
—Jay Nordlinger, National Review, 8 Dec. 2023
See all Example Sentences for chortle
Recent Examples of Synonyms for chortle
Verb
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Allison lies on the floor laughing in shame, but luckily Noel comes to give her a snuggle and some encouragement.Brian Moylan, Vulture, 15 Nov. 2024
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The morning the race was called, Hunter texted a few friends to make plans to get together and commiserate, cry, laugh.Allie Volpe, Vox, 11 Nov. 2024
Noun
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Eventually, the two came back together in an emotional reunion that held plenty of hugs, tears and laughter.Esther Kang, People.com, 4 Nov. 2024
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Their faces spoke louder: frowns of frustration, gasps of shock, squints of doubt, bursts of laughter, pouts of disappointment.Gerui Wang, Forbes, 2 Nov. 2024
Verb
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Mandira and Mallika trade barbs or giggle together maniacally, seemingly at random, or it’s all revealed to be a dream.Anupama Chopra, The Hollywood Reporter, 5 Nov. 2024
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Mickey and friends popping up from the shadows saying ‘boo’ and then giggling.Brady MacDonald, Orange County Register, 24 Oct. 2024
Noun
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Could anyone utter these lofty words today without courting a chorus of snickers, a social-media immolation?George Packer, The Atlantic, 5 Nov. 2024
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Sugar might have caught its share of snickers when its big plot twist was revealed, but Colin Farrell is a huge movie star who carried that show, and that should be enough to give him the edge.Joe Reid, Vulture, 13 July 2024
Verb
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Seated several feet away as his name came up in relation to picking Foster, Martin Jarmond chuckled.Ben Bolch, Los Angeles Times, 4 Nov. 2024
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Harris chuckled through the sketch, as Rudolph mimicked the vice president.Rebecca Morin, USA TODAY, 3 Nov. 2024
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Cite this Entry
“Chortle.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/chortle. Accessed 22 Nov. 2024.
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