as in chuckle
an explosive sound that is a sign of amusement
the joke provoked a sudden chortle from a bystander
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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
Examples of chortle in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Jennifer Rude Klett, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, 25 June 2020
Jay Nordlinger, National Review, 8 Dec. 2023
Recall, for example, how Les Moonves, then the chairman and CEO of CBS, giggled and chortled in 2016 over the horrifying inanity of the race for the GOP presidential nomination and its featured star, Donald Trump.
—Michael Hiltzik, Los Angeles Times, 17 Apr. 2023
See all Example Sentences for chortle 
Noun
The beloved bird is universally endearing with its brilliant blue and orange plumage and melodious chortle.
—Jennifer Rude Klett, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, 25 June 2020
Verb
Some people were chortling over something a Fox reporter did the other day.
—Jay Nordlinger, National Review, 8 Dec. 2023
Recall, for example, how Les Moonves, then the chairman and CEO of CBS, giggled and chortled in 2016 over the horrifying inanity of the race for the GOP presidential nomination and its featured star, Donald Trump.
—Michael Hiltzik, Los Angeles Times, 17 Apr. 2023
See all Example Sentences for chortle
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'chortle.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
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Cite this Entry
“Chortle.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/chortle. Accessed 19 Sep. 2024.
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