1
as in grins
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 laughs
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 smiles
William Harwood, CBS News, 15 Jan. 2026
Humans tend to synchronize with each other, which means that when someone smiles at you, you’ll be inclined to smile back.
—Angela Haupt, Time, 9 Jan. 2026
The 64-year-old, in short, rarely smiles.
—Scott Dochterman, New York Times, 8 Jan. 2026
As the two hugged, Hayley flashed a strip of sonogram photos at the camera as the couple smiles and sways in the sunlight.
—Kayla Grant, PEOPLE, 5 Jan. 2026
Nick the bartender won’t serve flaming rum punches, apparently a staple in heaven, and nobody smiles anymore.
—Margaret Heidenry, Vanity Fair, 24 Dec. 2025
The camera lens refocuses on my father who smiles back at them like a movie star or some small, lesser god.
—Literary Hub, 15 Dec. 2025
In one clip verified by ABC News, a man smiles at the camera, standing amid dozens of charred vehicles and lifeless bodies.
—Guy Davies, ABC News, 9 Nov. 2025
Prue takes a bite, just smiles, and gives Tom a big thumbs-up.
—Brian Moylan, Vulture, 7 Nov. 2025
Verb
Crew 11 commander Zena Cardman, in obvious good spirits, smiles as she's helped from the Crew Dragon capsule.
—Recent Examples of Synonyms for smiles
Verb
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Princess Charlotte, 10, grins at the camera, while her brothers, Prince George, 12, and Prince Louis, 7, have their faces turned towards their father.—
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California lawyer Arvand Naderi grins from one of the many billboards that have turned him into a regional star.—
Verb
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Simmons laughs when recalling the experience.—
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Honestly, my only regret is this thing in the eye [laughs].—
Noun
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Those surrounding the bride stood up and began clapping, their frowns shifting to wide smiles.—
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If only humans kept their expressions to cartoonishly clear frowns and smiles.—
Cite this Entry
“Smiles.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/smiles. Accessed 20 Jan. 2026.
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