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
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example 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
Edward Lotterman, Twin Cities, 19 May 2024
Her son had often suggested that the Investigative Committee investigate itself and chortled at the absurdity.
—Robyn Dixon, Washington Post, 23 Feb. 2024
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
So skeptics may chortle at do-gooder liberals’ NIMBY uproar as being hoisted on their own petards, so to speak.
—Edward Lotterman, Twin Cities, 19 May 2024
Her son had often suggested that the Investigative Committee investigate itself and chortled at the absurdity.
—Robyn Dixon, Washington Post, 23 Feb. 2024
See All Example Sentences for chortle
Recent Examples of Synonyms for chortle
Verb
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The audience at the New York college laughed at the remark, which was said in the context of Obama writing his second presidential memoir.—
Ross O'Keefe,
The Washington Examiner,
5 Apr. 2025
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Of course, this would mean that no white person uses the N word, tells or laughs at racist jokes, holds negative stereotypes of Blacks or discriminates against them.—
James Unnever and Wayne Genthner,
The Orlando Sentinel,
4 Apr. 2025
Noun
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Indian American actor Kal Penn was the host for the evening and his comments as well as those by the hosts drew a lot of laughter.—
Mayu Saini,
Footwear News,
2 Apr. 2025
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Bibby said to a chorus of laughter in a room that included Hornets staffers, coaches from other sports and his family, including son Michael Bibby Jr, who grew up attending Kings practices and games.—
Joe Davidson,
Sacbee.com,
1 Apr. 2025
Verb
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The plot is easy to follow, there are plenty of moments to make younger viewers giggle, and older kids and adults will appreciate the quick-witted humor thrown in by the adults.—
Alex Vance,
Parents,
28 Mar. 2025
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The internet's heart instantly melted at the sound of a baby giggling while the family dog carefully played with her.—
Dan Perry,
Newsweek,
28 Feb. 2025
Noun
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League sources stifle their snickers in public while privately marveling at the owner’s ceaseless stupidity. 3.—
Jeff Howe,
The Athletic,
24 Jan. 2025
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So he must be placed in the Apparition section, next to ghosts like John Barron, sharing a snicker with Ivana.—
Greg Marotta,
New York Daily News,
12 Jan. 2025
Verb
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At Griffith's house on the day of his death, Kelly remembers chuckling that the police officers milling around kept getting pricked by his cactuses, knowing that Griffith would have appreciated that, given his formerly adversarial relationship with law enforcement.—
Newsweek Staff,
MSNBC Newsweek,
4 Apr. 2025
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The corner outfielder, rated as Colorado’s No. 8 prospect by MLB Pipeline, paused for a long moment and chuckled at the question before answering.—
Patrick Saunders,
The Denver Post,
25 Mar. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Chortle.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/chortle. Accessed 16 Apr. 2025.
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