mug 1 of 2

noun

ˈməg How to pronounce mug (audio)
Definition of mugnext
1
as in cup
a round vessel equipped with a handle and designed for drinking a coffee mug

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2
as in thug
a violent, brutal person who is often a member of an organized gang just a bunch of mugs with no respect for anyone, not even themselves

Synonyms & Similar Words
3
as in face
the front part of the head she joked about not having to see his ugly mug anymore

Synonyms & Similar Words
4
as in mouth
the opening through which food passes into the body of an animal keep your mug shut and listen up

Synonyms & Similar Words
5
as in grimace
a twisting of the facial features in disgust or disapproval an involuntary mug at the revolting sight

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
6
as in sucker
chiefly British one who is easily deceived or cheated the cardsharp was always on the lookout for a new mug

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
7
as in idiot
chiefly British a stupid person what kind of mug goes out in the rain without his brolly or a mackintosh?

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

mug

2 of 2

verb

1
as in to grimace
to distort one's face every time their picture was snapped, both children mugged by sticking out their tongues or scrunching up their faces

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in to photograph
to take a photograph of mugging captured criminals for the police records

Synonyms & Similar Words

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 mug
Noun
The idea is to combine the calming, creative effects of cannabis with the joy of making art—whether that’s painting a masterpiece or crafting the perfect pottery mug. — Matt Rozo, The Mercury News, 19 Mar. 2025 Stella McCartney’s show even took place in an office setting complete with mugs and stationery. — Tricia Escobedo, CNN, 13 Mar. 2025 The fired and finished mugs are available about three weeks later. — Tasha Tsiaperas, Axios, 10 Mar. 2025 And this tumbler is one of our favorite travel mugs, offering the best bang for your buck (at five bucks less than usual). — Louryn Strampe, WIRED, 22 Mar. 2025 See All Example Sentences for mug
Recent Examples of Synonyms for mug
  1. cup
  2. thug
  3. face
  4. mouth
  5. grimace
  6. sucker
  7. scowl
  8. photograph
Noun
  • Drink coffee: Research suggests regular coffee consumption—about 2-3 cups daily—may help protect against liver fibrosis and cirrhosis by reducing inflammation.
    — Lindsay Curtis, Health, 8 Apr. 2025
  • Springtime is often a special time for European soccer players – league titles and cup competitions are often decided in April and May.
    — Don Riddell, CNN Money, 8 Apr. 2025
Definition of cup
Noun
  • The British consul wants to smuggle the seal out of China, with the help of a group of local thugs.
    — ArsTechnica, ArsTechnica, 7 Apr. 2025
  • As the machine gun thug tries to seal that deal for Whitman, Cara attempts to get him in her rifle's sights.
    — Matt Cabral, EW.com, 6 Apr. 2025
Definition of thug
Noun
  • The chef took to social media at the time to mourn the loss of the legendary Nacho, who became the face of his own cat food line and amassed over 269,000 Instagram followers during his life in the spotlight.
    — Emily Rella, People.com, 28 Mar. 2025
  • The club was candid — perhaps to a fault — regarding its extensive efforts to trade the face of the franchise, hoping to clear up payroll and roster space.
    — Katie Woo, New York Times, 28 Mar. 2025
Definition of face
Noun
  • Nothing worse than burning your mouth and chewing then breathing like a dragon.
    — Raja Krishnamoorthi, MSNBC Newsweek, 9 Apr. 2025
  • It does so by replacing the minerals in your teeth that would otherwise be lost to acid coming from bacteria in your mouth.
    — Joseph Choi, The Hill, 9 Apr. 2025
Definition of mouth
Noun
  • Those could also prove useful, but will face the challenge of distinguishing facial expressions unique to pain rather than similar grimaces related to being hungry.
    — IEEE Spectrum, IEEE Spectrum, 3 May 2017
  • In the movie, the monkey is a two-foot-tall sculpted plastic model whose arms bang up and down on a drum, as his mouth opens up to bare its teeth in a violent grimace.
    — Owen Gleiberman, Variety, 17 Feb. 2025
Definition of grimace
Noun
  • Just thinking about the poor suckers who had to guard her in high school makes Fudd pity them.
    — Grace Raynor, New York Times, 6 Apr. 2025
  • These giant in-lines mimic large prey like suckers and perch.
    — Joe Cermele, Outdoor Life, 26 Mar. 2025
Definition of sucker
Verb
  • Those who scowled at such modest steps in programming are presumably hailing the Trump regime’s ugly crusade against D.E.I., which has broadened into an assault on decades of civil-rights progress.
    — Alex Ross, The New Yorker, 24 Feb. 2025
  • For Halloween, Rick showed up wearing the same shirt Blake always wore, scowled and walked around with a Monster drink all night long.
    — Michael Barnes, Austin American-Statesman, 19 July 2024
Definition of scowl
Verb
  • Taking inspiration from Richard Avedon’s Performance, Mark Seliger set out to photograph them as they, quite literally, performed — many for the first time in decades.
    — Paula Aceves, Vulture, 7 Apr. 2025
  • The spring 2025 issue has Gwyneth Paltrow on the cover interviewed by the curator Klaus Biesenbach and photographed by Brianna Capozzi.
    — Marisa Meltzer, New York Times, 7 Apr. 2025
Definition of photograph

Browse Nearby Words

mufti
mug
mugged
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Cite this Entry

“Mug.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/mug. Accessed 14 Apr. 2025.

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